The tactics used by the United States of America (USA) against the Viet Cong between 1960 and 1975 did not help to defeat them during the Vietnamese war - NSC History - Question 4 - 2023 - Paper 1

Before the full-scale USA involvement, the struggle in Vietnam was characterized by the division of the country and the presence of the Viet Cong. The USA's engagement was chiefly motivated by the containment policy, which was a significant part of the Cold War strategy. The conditions were further complicated by guerrilla warfare and the Viet Cong's profound integration into local communities, making them harder to defeat.

The USA employed several strategies from its first intervention in South Vietnam, such as sending military advisors and weapons. The implementation of the 'Safe Village' policy aimed at isolating the Viet Cong from villagers led to mixed results. For instance, while some areas were initially stabilized, the overall tactic failed as many villages turned against the USA, thereby strengthening the Viet Cong's position.

The Tet Offensive demonstrated the resilience and capability of the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese forces, which invalidated perceptions of American progress in the war. Though a military failure for the Viet Cong in conventional terms, the success of the surprise attack highlighted the tactics' effectiveness in terms of psychological warfare. It shifted American public opinion significantly against the war.

Guerrilla warfare, employed by both the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese, was pivotal in the struggle against American forces. The difficulty in distinguishing guerrillas from civilians severely hampered traditional military tactics employed by the USA, making it challenging to achieve lasting victories despite the use of superior technology and firepower.

Despite the USA's involvement and advanced tactics, the strategies were ineffective in defeating the Viet Cong due to their familiarity with the terrain, support from the local populace, and effective guerrilla tactics. Moreover, incidents like the My Lai Massacre contributed to widespread anti-war sentiment in the USA, eventually influencing the withdrawal and signaling a failure of the adopted strategies.