The tactics used by the United States of America (USA) against the Viet Cong between 1960 and

1975 did not help defeat the Vietnamese. Do you agree with that statement? Use relevant
evidence to support your argument.

The statement that the tactics used by the United States of America (USA) against the Viet Cong
between 1960 and 1975 did not help defeat the Vietnamese is a widely debated position. I agree
with this statement, and my argument is based on the long-standing nature of the Vietnam War, the
inherent limitations of conventional military tactics against a guerilla war, and the eventual failure of
the U.S.'s efforts to achieve a sustainable political solution.

The Geneva Agreement of 1954 split Vietnam in two; Communist North Vietnam and Capitalist South
Vietnam . The agreement also stipulated that elections should be held in 1956 to unite the country.
Diem, the leader of South Vietnam, refused to hold the elections for fear of a Communist victory. The
U.S. supported Diem because of the domino theory - if Vietnam was taken over by communism, all
the neighboring countries would become communist as well. In 1955, the U.S. began supporting
South Vietnam by sending advisers and military supplies. The US's first intervention in South Vietnam
was to send first phase weapons and military advisers against the Viet Cong (Vietnamese
communists) between 1957 and 1965.

They also introduced the safe village policy whereby they forced everyone to live inside the village in
hopes of isolating the Vietcong outside. The United States used its resources to implement the Safe
Village policy/Smallholder Strategy ('Hamlet strategy')/'Villagisation' (resettlement of people in new
villages) – attempting to isolate/separate guerrillas from villagers (1963). The safe village policy did
not work because most of the Vietcong lived in the villages. They were peasants by day and guerrilla
fighters by night. In 1964, American ships in the Gulf of Tonkin were attacked by North Vietnam - this
gave America reason to send troops to Vietnam. By 1967, there were 500,000 American soldiers in
Vietnam.

U.S. launched Operation Rolling Thunder to destroy Ho Chi Minh Trail. U.S. deployed ground troops
and sought and destroyed missions - American soldiers easily targets for Vietcong who used the
cover of the jungle to their advantageOperation Ranch Hand (1962–1971) was launched by America.
use chemical defoliants (Agent Orange to destroy forest) – (environmental factors) and Agent Blue
(to destroy agricultural products and food to weaken Viet Cong). The use of chemical weapons has
made the U.S. unpopular and many countries have condemned the U.S.

I will discuss the various Vietcong strategies that led to the failure of the US army in the Vietnam
War. Military support from the USSR, China and the Vietminh received via the Ho Chi Minh Route.
The Vietcong used guerrilla tactics in which they moved unnoticed, triggered ambushes, and booby
traps laid. They rarely fought major battles. They would appear, kill and disappear from nowhere. The
booby traps inspired fear in the American soldiers, which in turn led to low morale. The US: fought a
conventional war dependent on bombers, gunships, and heavily armored troops.

The U.S. fought in a foreign country they didn't know or understand. U.S. bombing, searching, and
destroying missions and chemicals gave them the support of local villagers. It was impossible to fight
an enemy you could never find. The local Vietnamese population supported the Vietcong to liberate
their country. The Viet Cong increased their support base because of the tactics used against the
American soldiers. The Vietnamese were united in defending their country. Viet Cong responded
with Tet Offensive (1968) – successful surprise attacks on 100 US controlled cities. The attacks took
the Americans by surprise, but they soon recovered and recaptured most of the lost areas. It was a
great embarrassment to America and they suffered heavy casualties, 14,000 American troops were
killed and many injured.

Reasons for the US failure The US sent young inexperienced soldiers to Vietnam - modern weapons
could not help because of the lack of experience of the young US soldiers. The U.S. used modern
weapons for search-and-destroy missions (My Lai massacre) to destroy villages supported by the Viet
Cong This resulted in the death of large numbers of civilians—leading to increased support for the
Viet Cong and American atrocities and the My Lai massacre (March 1968) turning public opinion
against the war.

Impact of media - many people began to question America's involvement in the war. The use of
chemical weapons has made the U.S. unpopular and many countries have condemned the U.S.
American atrocities and My Lai massacre turned public opinion against the war and led to antiwar
protests in the U.S. Many were convinced that the U.S. could not win the war and put pressure on
the U.S. to withdraw. Vietnamization: President Nixon emerged with the policy of strategic
withdrawal from Vietnam. It was also called WHAM (Winning the Hearts and Minds of the
Vietnamese) which marked the failure of America to stop Vietnam from becoming a communist state
and the subsequent withdrawal. Johnson has decided to not run for the elections after the media
attention. Nixon wins the election because he promised to end the war. He would not surrender
because he does to want to hand over South Vietnam. He still wants containment. His key policy is
Vietnamisation. This is where he will train the ARVN so that America can leave the war but still
contain the spread of communism. Nixon is also looking for Peace Negotiations with North Vietnam.
He asks communist states such as USSR and China to put pressure on N.V to accept the negotiations.
In 1973 Paris Peace Accords which ends US involvement in the Vietnam war. NV promise to not
invade SV and not spread communism to S.V. in 1973,at the Paris Peace Accords. US involvement all
ended. 27th of January 1973- the Paris Agreement sets up a ceasefire between the USA, North
Vietnam, Vietcong and South Vietnam. Ceasefire is a temporary stop to a war in which both sides
agrees with the other to suspend aggressive actions. Vietnam was to be reunified based on
negotiations between the North, South and VC- the USA would not interfere. It did not specify
whether it would be communist or not. The USA would no longer aid ARVN, but the fighting was to
stop immediately. Prisoners of the war and captured equipment would be returned in 60 days, and
the USA would help pay for repairs in North and South Vietnam. The USA wanted the war to end and
for its POWs to be returned as soon as possible, Henry Kissenger had assured the US public that
peace was near. South Vietnam wanted to keep the US support and wanted Thieu’s govt to remain in
power. They refused to bargain with communists. March 1975 the North Vietnamese Army launched
a full-scale invasion of South Vietnam. 30 April 1975 Saigo fell. The last US advisors and troops were
evacuated in a last minute and humiliating scramble. The North had won! Vietnam was united and
Communist. US withdrew from the war.The United States withdrew all troops by 1973 (President
Nixon signed the Paris Peace Agreement on January 27, 1973, ending U.S. involvement in the
Vietnam War). U.S. withdrew all troops by 1973 and North Vietnam took control of Saigon in 1975.
Vietnam was united under communist control. The fighting spirit and defense of their country led to
the determination that triumphed over the modern weapons used by the United States. The
Vietnam War highlighted the failure of U.S. lockdown policy. The U.S. was defeated by the communist
forces in Vietnam. America was unable to stop the spread of communism in Southeast Asia as
Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos became communist countries.

This essay provided overwhelming evidence proving that U.S. Army superiority was successfully
defeated by the Vietcong in Vietnam. U.S. policy of containment failed and Vietnam became a unified
country under communist rule in 1975