Why didn't we (the US) accomplish our goal and finish the job in Vietnam during the Vietnam War?

Question

I feel like since we started the conflict and spent that much time, money and lost so many lives, we should have absolutely finished and accomplish our goal, whether how much people were against the war. I think that since we withdrew, what was the point of going in in the first place, the ones who died fighting for democracy and freedom in Vietnam....I feel like they died for nothing because nothing was accomplished as the communists took over all of Vietnam?

we didn't "start" it, the French did, but we are the ones that took over and decided to get into a full blown war with the goal of preventing the spread of communism.................

I mean, we could've been like "its none of our business" after the French and left Vietnam alone....but we did not and after all the money and lives lost l....we decided "lets get the hell out".

Answer 1

We decided the price was too high.

Answer 2

We changed the term of victory. The new term was that the U.S. would train South Vietnam's troops and leave South Vietnam to defend itself. This worked for three years after the U.S. military left. South Vietnam's government was so corrupt and hated by the Vietnamese (hence the reason why there was a civil war in the first place) that South Vietnam's government collapsed. The reason why the U.S. backed South Vietnam was faulty intelligence and the "Red Scare." In hind sight, if the U.S. was to back North Vietnam in the first place, the chance would have been very good that North Vietnam would not have turned to the Communists for help and Vietnam would have been a capitalist Republic. Vietnam could have been an ally against the Chinese communists.

It did help the U.S. military fight the modern war. Useful helicopters (some of which are still used), the F-16, the laser guided rockets and bombs, the rose cutter bomb, increased medical technology etc. were invented because of the Vietnam experience.

Answer 3

As a Vietnam veteran I agree with most of what you said-we did not start it though. All those dead for a cause we lost still bother me. The reason is simply a political decision led to the Peace Accords and then a lack of courage led to the U.S. not living up to treaty obligations and allowing the North to invade and conquer the South. A case of expediency and politics over ruling honor, commitment and integrity.
They didn't die for nothing though; they died for what they believed in in many cases and they died for the fellow military beside them. Something I don't think people understand but I think is very true is that people join the military for patriotism or a goal or idea; they fight, kill and die for the buddies in their unit and the comrade in arm beside them. The died for the citizens of the nation, the nation but most of all so that their comrades, including me, will be able to be here and remember them. They are not forgotten and as long as some of us remember them they will have died for something and have a form of life well beyond the time they breathed. Semper Fi

Answer 4

1) Consider this, as a patriot!, a foreigner comes into your country. They don't speak your language, have NO IDEA of your culture. They destroy your crops with DDT and Agent Orange. They destroy your homes, villages and towns, and force you to live in a concentration camp. They kill your fellow countrypeople by dropping bombs from 45,000 feet.
2) Consider this, as a patriot!, a fellow countryperson, who looks like you, speaks your language, understands the culture, tells you that your country has been invaded by foreigners. Who do you believe?
So all you patriots, who place the accident of place of birth above commonsense, and decency and humanity, you are the ones who cause the problem. Leave people alone and they get on, it is politicians and power-seeking military types who are the problem.
As to not accomplishing a goal, well if there is nothing more in sight than a military victory over the communist hordes, and there is no planning for the future life of the country, then how can a goal be reached? Hang on, that sounds very topical!!!

Answer 5

We pulled out because the politicians let the peace protesters convince them to get out and at the same time the protesters encouraged North Vietnam to keep fighting even though they were ready to quit. Does this sound familiar?

Answer 6

Our defeat in Vietnam was a victory for our liberals and their dictators.

And the same people want the Iraqi people to suffer just like the South Vietnamese people did after they were invaded and conquered by N. Vietnam.

Answer 7

That's simple, the majority of the American people are weak kneed sissies. The Communists couldn't defeat our military but the people back home were push-overs, just like today.

Answer 8

Definitely politics. They were setting up zones that the US could not bomb or fight in, so the NVA would mass all of their equipment into those areas, knowing they were safe.

Answer 9

Short answer-Washington wasn't willing politically to do what had to be done to finish the job.

Answer 10

Curious to learn what history book that provided the information that we started it.

Answer 11

Politics! Look around and see what kind of leaders dumb people are electing into office.