U.S., the “Vietnam Syndrome,” and American Congressional Debates Regarding Military Operations in Lebanon (1982-1984)

After the end of the Vietnam War, American society became susceptible to the so-called “Vietnam Syndrome.” It meant a loss of US confidence in its own omnipotence and unpreparedness for new large-scale human casualties. One of the ways to overcome this syndrome was US intervention in various regional crises. Participation in the Multinational Force (MNF) for the disengagement and withdrawal of Palestinians from Lebanon in 1982-1984 was supposed to be a confirmation of the US ability to influence world processes. The article traces the connection between the events in Lebanon and the American experience of the Vietnam War. The main source was US Congressional hearings. As a result of the study, it was concluded that the failures in Lebanon did not lead to the formation of a new, “Lebanese Syndrome” or a serious aggravation of the old one, that is, the “Vietnamese Syndrome.” This was facilitated by the limited military and material participation in the Lebanese events, as well as the withdrawal of American armed forces after the first major defeats.