Why vietnamization failed

But the Vietnamization process was deeply flawed from the beginning. When President Richard M. Nixon took office in January , the U. However, the full-scale U.

The enemy forces had absorbed tremendous punishment but remained determined to overthrow the U. Facing intense pressure from a war-weary public and widespread Vietnam War protests , Nixon sought a way to disengage American combat forces without appearing to abandon South Vietnam to the communists.

He rejected calls from the anti-war movement to order an immediate withdrawal of U. Toward this end, Nixon and his advisors—including Secretary of Defense Melvin Laird—developed a new strategy they called Vietnamization. The Vietnamization plan provided for a gradual, phased withdrawal of American combat forces, combined with an expanded effort to train and equip South Vietnam to take over military responsibility for its own defense.

The president announced his Vietnamization strategy to the American people in a nationally televised speech on November 3, In this administration, we are Vietnamizing the search for peace.

In addition to U. When Phuoc Long fell in January without provoking any American reaction, they got bolder and attacked and vanquished Ban Me Thuot in March , still without any reaction from the United States. He recommended that President Ford should provide millions dollars in emergency funds to rebuild the armed forces of South Vietnam and B air-strikes to contain the advance of the North Vietnamese Communists units.

Both requests were denied, resulting in the total collapse of the South Vietnamese Government in May In conclusion, as indicated right at its outset, the Vietnamization failed because it did not allow for the increase of troops and materials on the ARVN's side to counter the build-up of troops and materials on the NVA's side.

As stated by General Hieu, "We are becoming weaker. For these last twelve years, he works as a guidance counselor in a New York City public high school. Back in Vietnam, although he was a civilian as a high school teacher during the war, he has acquired quite a bit of knowledge about the Vietnam War and the Army of the Republic of Vietnam since he started researching to build up his web site on Major General Hieu, his elder brother, in July Wittman of Oakton Community College, started noticing his book.

The views and opinions expressed on this page are strictly those of the page author. Stealing of supplies and equipment was common during Vietnam. Officers would regularly take bribes, which would allow thieves to steal goods. This cost the US army millions in lost equipment and meant troops were not fully supplied. This made winning the war harder. Another point worth some reflection if we think a U. Embrace the complexities of geopolitics The fourth lesson is geopolitics matters.

However, such participation by other nations will never happen if other countries, both friendly and hostile, see the United States as unfocused and erratic. Stay engaged Finally, follow-through is important. Unlike the Paris Peace Accords, the United States must be ready to enforce any settlements that are reached. This means that isolationism or withdrawal from the world are never options. The Vietnam conflict conjures up different memories and images for Americans.

However, to dismiss the war as a total failure for the United States or a warning against any intervention causes us to lose important insight. Vietnam vet turned activist reflects on war experience as a poet, writer. Former Marine Sgt.