Could we have won the vietnam war?

Cherry

Maybe when it first started, but after China came into the picture it was to late.

Amarkov

The objective of the war was to prop up the dictatorship in South Vietnam, which was unpopular, incompetent, and disintegrated while our troops were still there. No, we could not have won.

John de Witt

At the end of the Tet offensive in 1968, the Viet Cong were destroyed as a fighting unit, never again able to operate in what Mao called "phase III" operations. The North Vietnamese Army had taken such a hard hit that General Giap reported they might have to surrender. The saving grace for them was that anti-war sentiment in the US was increasing, and Walter Cronkite, the "most trusted man in America" and CBS News anchor, completely misread the situation and announced that the war was unwinnable, convincing a large portion of the American public that it was true. That was the hair's breadth by which the war was lost.

Frank S

i never knew we lost we just pulled out

migbuster

Yes we would have have, if it was not for the news-media and the anti-war protesters.

btt

Yes we could have won the war in Vietnam. Poor management by politicians, and the military high command, as well a complete lack of understanding of conducting counter insurgency operations and the culture of Vietnam. Contrary to popular belief NO guerrilla force has ever won a war without massive support from outside country or countries. The British, French, and of course us Americans have been quite successful in crushing numerous insurgencies over the last 100 plus years [see Malaysia, Kenya, Philippines, amongst others].

Moose

Bubba P, all of the answers are pure speculation (including this one) but the answer that has the most credibility thus far identifies Vietnam as a guerrilla war. Most Vietnam vets will tell you the man who cut your hair by day cut your throat at night. Our "friends" were no such thing. We were trying to defeat our "enemies" but our friends were our enemies.

The government was a hopeless dictatorship that ignored the plight of the people. The people fought a guerrilla war against all comers.

This was a lost cause from day one.

RekonDog

We won all the battles, but lost the war.

thomas p

Others have mentioned the media as a major asset of the North in the war. Think what you like; but, tv news was given high marks for credibility until the reflection back on the war in the 1980s. It was the first time the media had worked against the military efforts of the nation. And the U.S. is permanently divided due to this editorial offensive. Yes, the war could have been won in theory. It was the media and poor a definition of victory that rendered it impossible.

The Scorpion

A war like that takes a total committment of even a powerful nation and we were never prepared politically or otherwise for that. We never understood the enemy and the government we supported was not organized to accept our support, and Pres. Johnson and his advisors were more interested in the 1968 election than they were in doing what was necessary to win. It was possible, but nothing at all fell into place from a political standpoint.

happygael

The Vietnam war was won. The ones who saved the day for the North was our media and our college professors. The ranks of both are heavily salted with left-wing types. They believe it is incredibly chic to run down their own country. It is not a matter of right and wrong. It is a matter of being politically correct.

Ragnar

If you look at the numbers the U.S military slaughtered the NVA and Vietcong. It was the politics, and propaganda that got in the way.

wichitaor1

"ElRushbo" insurgencies have been defeated throughout history.

The British were able to defeat the insurgency during the Malay emergency and handled the Mau Mau in Kenya. And Native American tribes mounted a guerrilla campaign against an occupying force, but the invaders were successful.

guberx

YES, our military had it's hands tied by the media and polotitians.

Semper Fi

Joe

Yes and we didnt completely lose vietnam nobody one

George

Yes, we could have. I was a hawk for the first part of the war, then became a dove when I realized that the government was not going to do the things necessary to win. I supported clearing the DMZ with nuclear weapons. Once we did then lack of support to the South by the North would have ended the war. Also the North would fear that we would use nuclear weapons on them. I never could understand why we fought half a war.

Vacationing abroad with Viagra

No.

Look thorough your history books and try to find an example of an invader winning a guerrilla war. Guerrillas fight when they want to, when they can, then fade back into the population.

The British could not beat the American revolutionaries. The French could not defeat the Viet Minh. The Americans could not defeat the Viet Cong and the North Vietnamese Army. And I will guarantee you that neither the Americans nor their Allies will "win" in Iraq OR Afghanistan.

Other factors involve the governments of those countries: all were/are corrupt to the bone and NOT democratically-oriented. It was and is arrogant of us to assume that the world "needs" free enterprise/capitalism, a democratically-elected representative/participatory government and/or liberated, educated women and abundant civil liberties. Especially if all of the above are presented at gunpoint...
.

Olger H

we were winning the war when we pulled out

Enter Your Message or Comment

User Name:
User Email:
Post a comment: