(CNN)President Barack Obama's announcement Monday that he was lifting the ban on the sale of weapons to Vietnam sent one message to the former U.S. wartime foe and another to the region. By ending the ban, the U.S. is signaling its desire to leave behind decades of tense post-war relations with Vietnam and start a new phase of closer economic and military ties -- one facet of the "rebalance" toward Asia that's central to the president's foreign policy legacy. Obama in Vietnam Obama lifts arms ban on VietnamWill lifting ban raise tensions with China?Vietnam defense spending rising fastView from both sides of Vietnam War U.S and Vietnam: Unlikely friendsOpinion: From enemy to partner At the...
