Why USA didnt invade north vietnam to end the war ?

Answer 1

Wow – revisionist history in action from those previous answers. We never wanted to bring the war to a conclusion in Vietnam. The political decision was made that we would not go into north Vietnam in any real manner (there were specific teams working there)because we were afraid the Chinese (and possibly the Russians) would be pulled into the war. At that time it was determined with the large contingency of forces in Korea and Germany and the cold war in its heyday we could not do an adequate job of offensive operations. We settled for a strategy much like Iraq today where we just want the locals to hold their own so we could get out.

All that being said, we could probably have ended the war in a year or so if we had determined to go into North Vietnam.

We don’t do force on force much anymore – its all about actions on contact – Unnamed LT 10th Cav - Iraq

Answer 2

The Chinese threatened to send one million soldiers into Viertnam if the U.S. invaded North Vietnam. Also staying in South Vietnam allowed the "police action" phrase to stand. Invading other countries is an act of war and not a police action.

Answer 3

Politicians. The politicians back here in the States put too many restrictions on how we fought that war.

But we were never really fighting to win that war in the first place, we only fought for a draw, to return to the "status quo ante" -- a divided Vietnam.

Answer 4

i heard that the USA dropped more bombs on North Vietnam than on germany inww2

Answer 5

We did, they kept pushing us back.

Those NVA were no Iraqis. They were well organized and had equipment. It was also in a thick jungle, that we didn't know.

That and politics.