The U.S. struggles against the Communist in Vietnam

1. Now think about the overall picture - how the strengths and weaknesses work together.

a) Were the armies finely balanced or was the balance strongly weighted to one side or the other?
The balance of was shifter waaaaaay to the side of the Veit Minh because they had most of the advantages of terrian experience and the desire, while in pure numbers, american forces were by far the larger.

b) Which quality was most important in determining who won the war? Was one feature so important that being ahead in that area meant that other advantages or disadvantages did not matter?
Qualities such as being able tt learn from the enenmy and the will to win. Yes, those two were very import because being able to learn and wanting to fight will keep you on the winning side as well as demoralize your opponent.

Stage 3: Explaining your conclusions
The failure of the U.S. army to beat the Communist in Vietnam was the result of its own weaknesses and Viet Cong strengths.

a. The U.S. weaknesses were:
there inability to learn as well as unable to adapt to teh new place and fighting style of the enemy. And they had not enough determined soldiers, and no true support from Vietnam.

b. At the same time, the Communist strengths were:
good guerrilla tactics, the understanding of the jungle, determined soldiers, the support of Vietnam, equipment supplied by the Soviet Unions and China.

c. The U.S. forces did have some successes. For example:
they were able bomb North Vietnam, interupted war efforts and stopping supply from the communists, and they demonstrated how strong our army was and inevitably how U.S. opposed comies.

d. However, there were some major failures as well. Examples of these were:
not winning the Vietnam war as a whole, not stoping communism, support of a corrupt government and leader in Vietnam.

e. The Viet Cong had some major successes, such as:
successfully bombing U.S. and Southern Vietnam air bases and supply fields, ultimately winning the war, keeping communism present in Vietnam and supporting Ho Chi Minh which resulted in the communists winning the war.

f. However, they also suffered defeats, for example:
the TET offensive. During the offensive, the Viet Cong lost around 10,000 experienced soldiers and it showed that the people of South Vietnam did not stand up to support the Viet Cong.

g. If I had to identify one major American weakness, it would be sucking at fighting in the jungles with gurrilla tactics/ learning because:
The U.S. was very head strong, ie thick skulled not inteligent, and it kept attacking straight on with no concern for lose of life. And they were every innifective against the Viet Cong's tactics.

h. The key Viet Cong strength was guerrilla tactics because:
they were able to attack as quick as lightnin', get the job done, and retreat while kung-fu fighting, cause them Viet Kongs were a lil' bit frightning.
Actualy those were the real reasons, and that they were able to