Question

Why did policymakers in the Johnson administration report that the incident in the Tonkin Gulf was unprovoked?

They believed Congress would approve a military campaign in South Vietnam without having a formal declaration of war.
They wanted to overthrow Ngo Dinh Diem and his government.
They believed it would cause Vietnam to become a permanent trading partner.
They believed it would unifNorth and South Vietnam as one nation.

Answer 1

Johnson administration policymakers reported that the incident in the Tonkin Gulf was unprovoked in order to gain Congressional approval for a US military campaign in South Vietnam. They needed this approval to carry out their secret plan to overthrow the Ngo Dinh Diem government, while also showing that the US was taking a strong stand against North Vietnam. The administration believed this would increase their chances of gaining Congressional approval and ultimately unifying North and South Vietnam as one nation

Step-by-step explanation: