What were some of the challenges faced during the Vietnam war?

Answer 1

In order of importance:

1. Fighting a limited war (also known as fighting with one hand tied behind one's back) in contrast to a TOTAL WAR was the most obvious disadvantage to the Vietnam War. A "declared" total war could NOT be conducted in a nuclear age. Such a declaration of war (meaning total war) would have or could have resulted in a nuclear exchange of atomic weapons; e.g. WORLD WAR III.

2. The geography of Southeast Asia (SEA); with South Vietnam in particular, resulted in an UNLIMITED flow of men/material into the South. Again, this could not be stopped (stemmed) without involving neighboring countries (nations), and again, walking the the thin line of "total war." A good example of GOOD geography would be the Korean Peninsula; during that war, the enemy was isolated by the US Navy...enemy supplies of men/material were strangled by their lack of control of the sea. They couldn't get thru, because the US/Allies wouldn't let them.

In Vietnam however, they couldn't be stopped; Vietnam was not a peninsula.

3. The US itself became it's own worst enemy. Because the casualties were so high; the war lasted so long; expensive jet aircraft and helicopters were being destroyed at terribly high rates (over 5,000 helicopters and over 2,000 jets were destroyed)...and worst of all; 40,000 young men were being inscripted into the US Military a MONTH by 1968...America had had enough. Americans turned on their own fighting men. Verbally and sometimes physically attacking their own servicemen. The US was a DIVIDED nation by 1969. GI's in South Vietnam, for the most part, were demoralized before they even got there. They went because they were ordered to, but upon arriving in country...their individual GOAL was to NOT be the last man to die there. As Nixon had already announced his re-deployment plans by '69. It was close to "search and evade" (in contrast to "search and destroy") by 1970.

Answer 2

US conscription and not being able to stop the flow of communist men & materials into South Vietnam; without possible intervention from the communist superpowers.