The real reason why the American lost the war in Vietnam.?

Question

It was not because of the protestors but another reason, and why did it go on so long?

Answer 1

Very simple, we never won the hearts and minds of the Vietnamese people.

We were invaders

A war like that is impossible to win.

Any gains were eventually lost.

We dropped more bombs on them then all of the second world war. We won every battle. But we continually lost ground.

The enemy had the advantage of being unseen. Could be walking around anywhere in Vietnam and our troops had no idea who was friend or foe.

Because of that, we made terrible blunders, killing people who should not have been killed. While the guerrillas were doing the same, to the innocent people, they were unknowns, and we were the only visible target. Eventually, most of S Vietnam turned against us. The reasoning is very simple, get rid of the invaders and the guerrillas cease to terrorize the countryside.

The same thing is happening in Iraq

America does not learn from its mistakes.

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I know all you thumbs downers believe we can win this war, but keep in mind, we did the same thing to win our revolution.

Obviously that worked.

Obviously we lost in Nam

At one time we had the will to win. But the American people finally figured out we were losing ground.
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Peace

Jim

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Answer 2

We didn't lose, we just weren't allowed to win. Instead of turning the military loose, we had "Rules of Engagement". War isn't a game. The idea is to WIN. If we don't go to war with the resolve to win, we shouldn't go to war. This may be over simplified but the basic philosophy is true.
World Wars 1 & 2 were so called "just wars" in which the enemy was clearly defined. It was all out war with few restrictions.
Korea, Vietnam, and now Iraq, were and are "police actions".
In Korea the enemy was defined, but we couldn't engage the enemy beyond a line on the map because we didn't want to mix it up with the Chinese. Fighter pilots could see enemy planes take off to attack them but couldn't attack the airfield because it was on the wrong side of the line.
In Vietnam similar "rules" applied, and the enemy lived among the civilian population.
In Iraq the situation is similar, and we are handicapped by the need for"surgical strikes", and the like because that's the kind of country the U.S. is.
In Korea, Vietnam, and now Iraq, what kind of rules do you think the enemy observes?
Bottom line: Allow the troops to win or don't go to war.

Answer 3

First off it was not an official "war" But a extended use of the War Powers act, We never actually declared war against any country. We did not loose the war due to protesters, But by the inability to shut down insurgents and guerrilla units. The Actual N.V.A. was no match for the technology, and training the United States had. But our military had no doctrine or tactic(s) for facing guerrilla fighters. Which is why Special Forces Groups such as LARP and the Green Berets were established. But because it wasn't an actual "war" to loose then We never did.
But what actually provoked the withdraw was the impeachment of Nixon and the election of Jonson.

Answer 4

It went on so long because the government would not let the military win the war. Let me put that another way, the politicians in Washington aided the North Vietnamese in killing our troops. It went on so long because a target would be taken, then given back to the enemy time and time again. Because Washington was afraid to attack North Vietnam, who were pouring into the south American troops had to fight a larger and better equipped enemy.

Answer 5

i wouldnt say we lost so much as we didnt win. we decided it wasnt worth an all out war, which probably would have started world war three. the NVA was supported by russia. Not to mention the VC wasnt fighting face to face they fought in ambushes and then dissapeared into the jungle. We underestimated the enemies capabilities and did not decide to go all out with them. Which when you look back was a good decision because alot of people would have died needlessly. Its another example of the US butting in on other countries problems. All the people who fought in Vietnam were some of the bravest americans to ever fight in a oversees conflict. The problem is the leaders who sent them in were not in the right. We werent even attacked.

Answer 6

Resolve.

America flexes it's military might too easily and when it does it has no resolve.

It's like the guy who pulls out a gun when he is being held up by a mugger and is too scared to use it.

War isn't pretty. Ugly things happen. You can't half-fight a war (like we are doing in Iraq). If the enemy hides among the civilians, you can't hold back. If you can't stomach it (as a nation) don't go to war.

There is no such thing as a surgical strike.

Answer 7

It was a police action, not a war. It should have been a war from the onset. America did not lose the war, Vietnam lost to the rebels.

Answer 8

Because politicians stuck their noses in and would not let the commanders in the field fight the war like they were trained and capable of doing #2 The NVA and VC were highly motivated in there cause .

Answer 9

We did not lose the war,it was all politics. Just take a look at Iraq. In my opinion instead of a war in jungle, it`s a war in the dessert over oil.

Answer 10

wasn.t a war, was a conflict, it was political, like most are,
$ , ever think about it,? when there's a conflict or war going on the economy gets a kick start, thats why the price of scrap is so high, copper, and brass top $ the troops need ammo,