<P> Diệm was already growing unpopular with many of his countrymen because of his administration's nepotism, corruption, and its apparent bias in favor of the Catholic minority--of which Diệm was a part--at the expense of the Buddhist majority . This contributed to the impression of Diệm's rule as an extension of the French Colonial regime . Promised land reforms were not instituted, and Diệm's strategic hamlet program for village self - defense (and government control) was a disaster . The Kennedy administration grew increasingly frustrated with Diệm . In 1963, a crackdown by Diệm's forces was launched against Buddhist monks protesting discriminatory practices and demanding a political voice . Diệm's repression of the protests sparked the so - called Buddhist Revolt, during which several monks committed self - immolation, which was covered in the world press . The communists took full advantage of the situation and fueled anti-Diệm sentiment to create further instability . </P> <P> On July 27, 1964, 5,000 additional U.S. military advisers were ordered to the Republic of Vietnam (RVN or South Vietnam), bringing the total American troop level to 21,000 . Shortly thereafter an incident occurred off the coast of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam) that was destined to escalate the conflict to new levels and lead to the full scale Americanization of the war . </P> <P> On the evening of August 2, 1964, the destroyer USS Maddox was conducting an electronic intelligence collection mission in international waters (even as claimed by North Vietnam) in the Gulf of Tonkin when it was attacked by three P - 4 torpedo boats of the North Vietnamese Navy . Reports later reached the Johnson administration saying that the Maddox was under attack . Two nights later, after being joined by the destroyer C. Turner Joy, the Maddox again reported that both vessels were under attack (this event, which took place under adverse weather conditions, in fact never occurred). Regardless, President Johnson addressed Congress asking for more political power to utilize American military forces in South Vietnam, using the attack on the Maddox as cause to get what he wanted . </P> <P> There was rampant confusion in Washington, but the incident was seen by the administration as the perfect opportunity to present Congress with "a pre-dated declaration of war" in order to strengthen weakening morale in South Vietnam through reprisal attacks by the U.S. on the North . Even before confirmation of the phantom attack had been received in Washington, President Johnson had decided that an attack could not go unanswered . </P>

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