The Viet Minh had gained military experience fighting the Japanese, and in 1947 they began fighting the French.
越盟在与日军的作战中得到了军事经验,1947年,他们开始与法国人作战
In keeping with the Truman Doctrine, the United States helped France by sending money and materials.
奉行杜鲁门主义,美国为法国送去了钱财和原料,进行援助
After Mao Zedong's Communists took over China in 1949, America increased the aid to France.
1949年毛泽东领导的共产党接手中国,美国增加了对法国的援助
But the French were born to lose: their resources were limited and their line of supply was too long.
但是法国人注定要输,他们的资源有限,补给线也太长
Worse, they were up against a skilled and brave enemy, the Viet Minh, fighting on its on land for its own freedom.
更糟糕的是,他们面对的是一支熟练勇猛的队伍,越盟是在为自己的自由在自己的领土上而战
In 1954 the French bailed out.
1954年,法军难以为继
The former French Indochina was divided up by the Geneva Accord into North Vietnam, South Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.
前法属印度支那被日内瓦协议划分为了北越南,南越南,老挝和柬埔寨
The United States was effectively left with the mess.
事实上这烂摊子又丢给了美国
The changeover from imperial colony to new sovereign country was not always smooth.
从帝国殖民地到主权国的转变并非总是一帆风顺的
Israel, for example, was forced to choose at once between allying with the Western Allies or the Soviets.
例如,以色列就被迫要在与西方阵营结盟还是与苏联结盟之间做出选择
Nor did the old imperial powers let their powers go completely.
而原来的帝国也没有完全放手所有权力
In July 1956, the modern Egyptians nationalized the Suez Canal.
1956年7月,现代埃及人将苏伊士运河国有化