‘ The Usa’s Failure To Secure Victory In Vietnam By 1968 Was Due To Mistakes In Its Military Strategy And Tactics.’ Flashcards
(4 cards)
Intro
The USA’s failure to secure victory in Vietnam by 1968 was due to mistakes in its military strategy and tactics. There are multiple grounds to consider such as the USA’s military tactics, domestic unpopularity and discontent, and the strength of the Vietcong. However, if we were to assess which factor created the most resentment, was a miscalculation and led to further distaste and discontent, then undeniably, it was the mistakes of the us’ military strategy and tactics that cause failure. We have to recognise the significance of the domestic discontent because it harmed Johnson’s popularity and created great instability that decreased support for the war, but this was in reaction to the brutal and unpopular methods of the USA’s military strategy. Likewise, the strength of the vc created a strong opposition to the USA’s military strategy, but it was exploiting the weakness of USA’s ineffective tactics.
USA military tactics
The gulf of Tonkin resolution ‘like grandma’s night shirt’ enabled operation rolling thunder which was an Americanised bombing campaign aimed to destroy the north’s supply lines and military infrastructure. The USA also had air support and modern equipment- speed and crucial attack weapon . By 1967, about one mil tons of supplies were arriving into south Vietnam to supply forces. Operation Randhand- agent blue, orange and napalm - pineapple bombs killed many innocent people, search and destroy - westmorelnad’s body counts indiscriminate and brutal killings, my lai massacre. Was successor in the tet offensive
CA- north = mostly agrarian so objective failed, was unnecessary and futile, many bombs fell into uninhibited forest of jungle and NV adapted quickly using extensive network of tunnels and underground bases, which were difficult to target from the air. Damage reputation of the us. Many civilians who were previously neutral or anti-com were pushed into supporting VC due to the violent indiscriminate actions of American forces. Political and psychological humiliation
Domestic unpopularity
Broadcasted horrific images of the war and images released at the tet offensive which came at a time of growing disillusionment with war of attrition and the my lai massacre led to a tp in the American conscience. Civil right protesters, Johnson betraying the great society, isolationists and pacifists. MLK
Walter contrite helped enhance the protest mood and helped shape the popular opinion of us citizens which was the war had reached a stalemate and not a cross over point. Weatherman protests ‘ you don’t have to be a weatherman to know which way the wind is blowing.
Ca- was a reaction to the us military methods
Strength of the VC
Guerilla tactics- complex tunnel systems, narrow tunnels and booby traps
Help from the youth- anti imperialist and anti-colonial war, fight the Americans to protect the Vietnamese sovereignty. The Vietnamese population would have had remembered their days of french colonialism so would want to channel this anti-col sentiment into action by helping the vc. HCM trials was never fully disabled and logistical support from china and the ussr- able to hold their position and was the battle that convinced HCM he could win. By 1964, 80,000 guns supplied by china and ussr MiG-21 jets and artillery systems
CA- exploited the American weakness in tactics
Degree of dependency upon china and ussr.
