‘the Strength Of The Vietcng And PAVN Is Largely Irrelevant, It Was The Weaknesses Of American Strategy Which Led To Failure Domestically And Militarily’ Flashcards
LOA
Although there is a valid plausible argument in the fact the American strategy was weak, it’s assertion that the strength of the Vietcong and PAVN is irrelevant is largely a simplification because their strength was unmistakably due to their capitalisation on the American weakness, bolstered by international support from communist countries and their measured knowledge on the terrains of Vietnam that the guerilla war tactics were influenced by.
Capitalisation of American weakness
LBJ came to power without legitimacy bc of Kennedy’s unexpected assassination— he was sworn in as president just 2 hrs after the incident occurred. Vietnam under Kennedy was a limited capacity shaped by sending military advisers and LBJ escalated its capacity through gulf of Tonkin ‘like grandma’s nightshirt it covers everything.’ Needed a record for GE 1964 and clinged onto Vietnam as his only hope for military success at containment. This was the nexus of the weakness bc he saw this war as an ideological war that was necessary to prevent the domino theory from occurring in SEA to show the american population that he was a competent leader in the cw and was radicalised through the TP of the war in Operation rolling thunder that Americanised the war w/ boots on the ground to force the north into submission. Very unpopular bc it encouraged indiscriminate killing of innocent people and children with controversial methods like search and destroy and chemical exfoliants.— William westmoreland’s cross over point - body counts and obsession with metrics. This contradicted his great society and civil rights— love not hate hippy movement and the influence of MLK that domestically worsened his reputation— clear that he got the balance wrong. Images of regular people being brutalised circulated the us press
Us efforts undermined bc china and the use topped up the North’s lost resources.
CA- more modern tech and helicopters that had the sky advantage, but NV was predominantly agrarian economy.
North Vietnam’s strengths
- saw this as an all-out war against western colonialism. Many of the youth joined in by filling the roads that had been exploded and repaired it within a day.
Greatest weapons was the determination of their troops
Guerilla tactics - despite 1000-3000 casualties compared to only 305 of the USA, they were able to hold their position ‘the battle that convinced HCM he could win.’ Sophisticated tactics such as complex tunnel systems that was designed to only fit the smaller physique of the Vietnamese soldiers, booby traps and trip wires.
CA- no guaranteed support among many south Vietnamese peasants e.g Tet Offensive.
International logistical support
China supplied about 140,000 guns by 1989 and the ussr supplied surface-to-air missiles, MiG-21 jets and artillery systems.
Progandistc support to ensure uniformed loyalty in NV and deter defection — help from Mao in the guiding principles of the NLF guerilla forces such as always keep ur word— the Vietcong were also prepared to use sig violence against any peasants who challenged them. Terror as an indispensable tool to secure loyalty and cooperation.
CA- degree of dependency upon both the USSR and china. The north’s economy could not sustain a prolonged war, even one based on guerilla tactics.
