Your The Man In '68, A New Poll

[KG_Panzerschreck]

Ok, its 1968, Robert Macnamara has just been fired and you have just been approved by the House and Senate Commities as the New Secretary of Defense. The President is sick of the bad press we are getting on the homefront and the unwillingness of the North Vietnamese to begin Peace Talks in Paris.

You have been given your orders - "You have free reign to do as you see fit. You have full command of the Navy, Airforce, Army and Marine ground forces in country, plus a substantial increase in ground troops to follow any plan of your choosing."

The question is........what would you do?

[KG_Soldier]

I call for a U.N. sanctioned vote on unification of Vietnam and let Ho Chi Minh know that we will support his new government. I call a press conference and blame J.F.K. for arming U.S. advisors and assassinating Diem. I tell the press we now realize Vietnam is nothing like Korea and is more a civil war than a Communism vs Capitalism war. I get the troops home as soon as possible.

[KG_Panzerschreck]

Originally Posted by KG_Soldier

I call for a U.N. sanctioned vote on unification of Vietnam and let Ho Chi Minh know that we will support his new government. I call a press conference and blame J.F.K. for arming U.S. advisors and assassinating Diem. I tell the press we now realize Vietnam is nothing like Korea and is more a civil war than a Communism vs Capitalism war. I get the troops home as soon as possible.

Aaaah, the problem with that argument is that you were not hired to be Secretary of State or the USA's Ambassador to the U.N.

You were hired to find a "Military Answer" to winning the war in Vietnam due to your amazing grasp of tactics and the ways of war. So please tells us your "Hawkish" answer.

[KG_RCT_Hasty]

I voted others. In the first year or two years(depends on how things go) i would increase the guerilla training and deploiment of special troops and the training of the south Vietnamese army. In those two years, i would try to ensure my forces the cooperation of native tribes, and of vietnamese. With these guerilleros, i would drop more and more special troops with choppers or river boats, depending the location and situation. I'd begin with South Vietnam territory, then toward the Ho Chi Min trail, then North Vietnam. The goal being to create havoc and confusion in Vietcong controlled territory and North Vietnam territory. I'll feed them with the kind of war they feed us.

After that 1st step, i would gradually increase military pressure. 1st on the Vietcong hideout in the South, then crossing the North border. I'd bring all the manpower possible. I'd built the mightiest logistic organisation possible. Because our troops would need loads of stuff. By increasing the military pressure, i mean the we push them Viet before us. After each week of advance, a massive camp would be built to support the push. By massive i mean with an airfield capable of supporting our choppers and even supply planes. After our advance, the South Vietnam would keep our rear secure. Note that above i mention South Vietnam troops training. I would also give them fire experience by incorporating some units within our OOB, all that depending of the opinion of my officers in charge of the training.

Once the south have been "cleared", we'll massivly invade North Vietnam. If all goes well, the North is already "soften" by our guerilla tactics. Note that before going north, we'll be sure the HoChiMin trail isnt funtional at all. I wouldnt make massive bombardement on the North, but maybe once or twice devastating drop to make an "exemple".

At first i wouldnt send troops in Cambodia or Laos. I'd fight there with special troops only. If no other option available i would enter these countries with my forces.

There's lots of stuff i'm thinking of, but you have the picture.

ps. sorry bout the typo

[KG_Jag]

This time is still very real to me, as I became a high school junior in the fall of 1968.

With 20-20 hindsight, I would recognize that Ho was much more a nationalist than a piece of the communist monolith--or more accurately bipolar communism, as it had spit into Soviet Union and China parts by 1968. With that recognition, I would withdraw all US forces and allow Vietnam to work out its own destiny--more or less similar to following Star Trek's Prime Directive.

An additional bonus may be that Pol Pot would not have taken over in Cambodia, or at least his horrific deeds would not have reached the same proportions as they did.

[KG_RangerBooBoo]

Mine the harbors and bomb every railroad track, road, goat path, etc. that led from China to North Vietnam and keep them that way. Use the additional troops to take and hold ground rather then chasing the VC/NVA off for them to return later. Start securing villages in the interior and work my way towards the borders. This would deny the VC recruits and places to hide/gather intelligence/resupply. Seal off the borders or at least make it costly as hell to move from Laos or Cambodia into Vietnam. At some point if this hadn't gotten the job done then you start bombing North Vietnam until their isn't two rocks standing on top of each other.

[KG_Soldier]

Advocating the use of "Tactical Nukes" on China or North Vietnam is crazy. I personally think the most telling thing about your mindset yet seen in this forum. KILL THEM ALL. ALL WHO ARE NOT LIKE US. The Muslims are like the North Vietnames and the Chinese, NOT LIKE US. KILL THEM ALL. NUCLEAR WAR!!!!!!! NUCLEAR WAR!!!!!!! WE'LL WIN. You so remind me of George C. Scott in Dr. Strangelove, Col. Buck Turgelson, I Think. Let us not forget the Soviet Union. Ho had more allies than just China. I can honestly say I've never met anyone so ready for Armageddon. You'd make a good suicide bomber.

[KG_AGCent]

Originally Posted by KG_Soldier

blah blah blah

I knew I could get a rise out of you. You're too easy.

[KG_SSpoom]

Victory was NOT specifically mentioned in the question to start this thread.
If achieving a Military victory on the field of battle was mentioned in the opening statement we would have a very different thread going here.
Sometimes cutting your losses and living to fight another day instead of flailing away in a possibly unwinnable war IS the best alternative.
I do like the French comment however =) Rob =)

[KG_AGCent]

Ah! So right you are. The terms of victory were never established.