Vietnam: A Failure of Strategy and Leadership
Abstract
Some historians argue that America s involvement in Vietnam and subsequent defeat was a fait accompli. Others have argued that America s commitment was half hearted and its strategy barely discernible as a credible measure to deal with a complex counterinsurgency. Still others have argued that America could have achieved its policy goals if not for an incoherent strategy that did not bring to bear the full weight of the military to achieve decisive victory in the classic sense. America's involvement in Vietnam corresponded with its uncompromising pledge to contain communism but unclear policy priorities, poor strategy, and overly restrictive limitations throughout the Johnson administration created irreversible distrust that eroded political commitment and proved fatal to a potentially successful strategy under the Nixon administration.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 30, 2013
- Accession Number
- ADA601702
Entities
People
- D. M. Crousore
Organizations
- Marine Corps University