Communists vs. Anti-Communists
Communist supporters and anti-communist supporters were arrested on the spot, around 40,000 political prisoners were arrested by 1958. Americans tried to help Diem but the weapons and supplies were not enough. Assassinations of political leaders would still occur and eventually Diem would be assassinated.
National Liberation Front
The National Liberation Front consisted of all anti-government people, and both communists and ant communists were involved in this group. They were overpowering Diem, and he felt like he could not defeat the communist and the US thought Diem was in Contact with Ho Chi Minh.
Lyndon Johnson
Lyndon Johnson was the president after JFK's death, and stated "'strength' and 'determination' must be used in the battle against Communism to express his solid viewpoint toward the war in Vietnam. He increased giving aid to South Vietnam which pressured the North. The Gulf of Turbine helped congress to give more military power for Johnson.