0
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.
Still curious? Ask our experts.
Chat with our AI personalities
Devin
Lao
Fran
Add your answer:
Earn +20 pts
What was a hard hat during the Vietnam War?
Some "construction workers (hard hats)" made the news during the war, supporting the fighting men in Vietnam; some muscle was used during this support.
What where some of the problems that troops faced during the winter Valley Forge?
it was cold there
What were some challenges of the Westward Expansion?
The native Americans faced trouble like settleing into new land ajusting to new places and the sever weather faced. many Natives also faced the new settlers stealin the land and forcing them to move to geogia and southeast states. one of the famous trails that the Natives made was the trail of tears.
What was Australia's reaction to the Vietnam war?
President Johnson's visit to Australia during the Vietnam War was met by Australian anti-war protests.
What were some problems that troops faced during the winter at Valley Forge?
The troops at Valley Forge faced many problems. First of all, it was winter and many of the soldiers did not have shoes, gloves, and jackets, so troops were dying from hypothermia. Also, they did not have vaccinations or medicines for diseases, so some died from that too.
