Tet Offensive

Question 1

By 1996 why was public support for the war in decline?

Answer 1

• Johnson betraying the great society
• senate armed services committee- ‘get it over or get out’
  Johnson’s approval voting decreased to the low 40s.

Question 2

Westmorland

Answer 2

Close to the crossover point
Estimated 430,000 VC guerillas killed ‘political bombshell’— try to downplay VC strengths bc they want to keep the public onside—body count continuously fed to the USA press

Question 3

By 1967 why did support for the war decrease?

Answer 3

70,000 US troops killed
‘Credibility gap’
Less favourable press coverage
Win or get out
LBJ was sure that Hanoi would not negotiate until after 1968 election

Question 4

Tet jan-feb 1968

Answer 4

It came at a time when there was growing disillusionment with the war of attrition that Westmorland had orchestrated and Johnson had endorsed
For the Vietcong— it was a massive military defeat— 25,000 killed and 5000 captured.
Walter Cronkite- mouthpiece of the popular domestic opinion of the people - told us to leave closer to stalemate than a cross over point = psychological defeat and political for the USA.
NV broke into us embassy.
80,000 PAVN troops attacked 100 towns and cities.

Question 5

My lai massacre

Answer 5

At hue. US counter attack to tet.
2,800 - 6,000 killed. USA killed ‘VC’. Executions of supporters at SV. Retaliatory strikes = war crime.

Question 6

Sino-soviet split

Answer 6

Debate = guerilla warfare, conventional warfare or negotiations