Was Ho Chi Minh More of a Nationalist Than a Communist?

Was Ho Chi Minh more of a jingoistic than a commie? Most people in America securely believe that Ho Chi Minh was a communist first and foremost. The domain was inundated with stories of his visits to Russia and china. We heard repeatedly how his support from communist countries was being use to take over and create a communist stronghold in South East Asia. What we didnt hear was the rest of the story. The Vietminh under Minhs leadership had an alliance of sorts with the U. S. during WWII.The common enemy, the Japanese provided a sort of inappropriate bedfellows situation where the communists supported the ouster of a nonher foreign invader. After the war, the Vietminh set(p) up governmental structures in the country assuming Vietnam would return to a sovereign state. Minh himself made repeated overtures to the U. S. and other countries for support in his demand of independence (Young, 1991. p 14). Even the Vietnam declaration of independence signaled Minhs ultranationalisti c view (Gettleman, et al, p 26). As a pragmatist, Minh realized that the U. S. as not going to support his independence so he turned towards Russia and China for support. Minh walked a fine line with these countries to keep his supply line open up without losing his independence. Some say that ability showed his true skills as a diplomatist (Obituary, 1969). On the flip side of the equation, Minh was a true and through communist. He lived and breathed the communist ideals and was ruthless in achieving them. It has been said that he was a great contradiction. Ho Chi Minh was known as the great communist leader while at the same time ultimate nationalist (Ho Chi Minh, 2006).References Gettleman, M, Franklin, J, Young, M. &038 Franklin, B. (1995). Vietnam and America. Grove Press, New York, N. Y. Ho Chi Minh North Vietnamese Leader (2006). Retrieved from http//www. historynet. com/ho-chi-minh-north-vietnam-leader. htm Ho Chi Minh Was Noted for Success in blend Nationalism and Commun ism (Obituary) (1969. Retrieved from www. nytimes. com/learning/general/onthisday/bday/0519. html Young, M. (1991). The Vietnam Wars 1945=1990. Harper collins Publishers, New York N. Y.