I think there were two contributing factors
1)Political opinion in the US. I think I've said enough
2)Guerrila warfare
Yes, the US was winning the war militarily, but like a (sorry for US people and especially for vets, I couldn't think of another expression) limping giant. It's nearly indestructible, very powerful, but couldn't respond to small attacks like the VC does. It's like one battleship vs hundreds of speedboats armed with armor-piercers

I think the anti-war demonstrations etc. were not the cause of the defeat but a symptom of a war going badly which ultimately accelerated the inevitable.

Originally Posted by A Can of Man

I think the anti-war demonstrations etc. were not the cause of the defeat but a symptom of a war going badly which ultimately accelerated the inevitable.

The anti war protests were wide spread across the US & likely crushed the will of the politicians to support the war.Cronkite throwing in the towel mid battle during the Tet Offensive when a long ways too. This is a long Thread & can't remember earlier comments of mine, but the constant press coverage showing our guys getting killed in what looked like the same paddy day after day w/o sign of progress wore down a public who had an expectation of victorious progress.

We lost the war in Vietnam, not due to the soldiers fighting it but because of the socialist governments that gained control of our countries and the lack of will of the average citizen. I have friends who served and they all state they fought a containing war not an offensive one.

Even though many people don't view the Vietnam War as a conventional war, the fact remains that the Guerilla forces were getting their marching orders from the North. Had we carried out attacks in the North as we did in Germany and Japan, the war could have been won through attrition.

Isn't that what was basically done during WWII. We wore the enemy forces down.

The politicians wouldn't allow the military to carry out attacks in the North ... NOUGH SAID ?????

I suppose there's nothing quite as certain as killing everyone. If you want to go down that road.

Politicians micromanaging Vietnam from Washington didnt help.
Same reason we have missed Bin Laden so many times.

When they turn our forces loose and say "We dont care how you do it
just get the job done." we always win.

To wit: Sept. 11th New York and DC hit by Taliban shielded terrorist.
Night of Nov. 12th Taliban fleeing Kabul like rats on a sinking ship.

Originally Posted by duoya321

China communist party said ,they can not tolerate European and American,Russia stayed at Asia once more, they should get out of Asia continent, If Eoroprean and American had many moneys spent at military ,why they don't relieve the hungry people in blacke Africa and other poor Asia country ,like India and Bangladesh， the PLA would should their military power ,give a big lesson to European, NATO amry ,are you ready to fight ?

Are you asking if we want to fight? The CCP cannot afford any war with the west. Their entire economy depends on us. As long as that is the case, the CCP will not make a move on Taiwan. Can the CCP do what the US military is and has been doing for years? Fight a protracted war half-way around the world for years. No they can't and yes we can. If it comes to it, we will fight. Still, the likelyhood of a war between the US/NATO/UN and communist China is slim to none...at least for the next 20-30 years.

China back north Vietnam fight against American, China provide the weapons and foods ,equiqments ,trucks and military consutants.How the American can win it.?

Originally Posted by ticwocw

China back north Vietnam fight against American, China provide the weapons and foods ,equiqments ,trucks and military consutants.How the American can win it.?

Couldn't read these posts without thinking about a bloke in the neighbourhood, very active wherever he could make his voice heard, he jumped on every oportunity to opose something and usually held a flaming speech, during which he normaly managed to contradict himself at least 2-3 times, before he ended up with a conclusion pretty close to what others had allready suggested.

It's almost as if I will miss the little bugger.