Sept. 5, 1969: Murder charges in My Lai massacre

[Captdon]

No, they didn't. The accomplished virtually nothing of what they set out to accomplish. They got their asses handed to them and the South Vietnamese didn't show up for the revolution.

https://www.history.com/this-day-in-...y-new-refugees

You really don't know what you're talking about. Tet started us down the road to surrender.
Militarily, Tet was decidedly an Allied victory, but psychologically and politically, it was a disaster. The offensive was a crushing military defeat for the Viet Cong and the North Vietnamese, but the size and scope of the communist attacks had caught the American and South Vietnamese allies completely by surprise. The early reporting of a smashing communist victory went largely uncorrected in the media and led to a psychological victory for the communists. The heavy U.S. and South Vietnamese casualties incurred during the offensive–and the disillusionment over the early, overly optimistic reports of progress in the war–accelerated the growing disenchantment with President Lyndon B. Johnson’s conduct of the war.

[Captdon]

No, they didn't. The accomplished virtually nothing of what they set out to accomplish. They got their asses handed to them and the South Vietnamese didn't show up for the revolution.

You really don't know what you're talking about. Tet started us down the road to surrender.
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-...y-new-refugees

Militarily, Tet was decidedly an Allied victory, but psychologically and politically, it was a disaster. The offensive was a crushing military defeat for the Viet Cong and the North Vietnamese, but the size and scope of the communist attacks had caught the American and South Vietnamese allies completely by surprise. The early reporting of a smashing communist victory went largely uncorrected in the media and led to a psychological victory for the communists. The heavy U.S. and South Vietnamese casualties incurred during the offensive–and the disillusionment over the early, overly optimistic reports of progress in the war–accelerated the growing disenchantment with President Lyndon B. Johnson’s conduct of the war.

[Mister D]

You really don't know what you're talking about. Tet started us down the road to surrender.
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-...y-new-refugees

Militarily, Tet was decidedly an Allied victory, but psychologically and politically, it was a disaster. The offensive was a crushing military defeat for the Viet Cong and the North Vietnamese, but the size and scope of the communist attacks had caught the American and South Vietnamese allies completely by surprise. The early reporting of a smashing communist victory went largely uncorrected in the media and led to a psychological victory for the communists. The heavy U.S. and South Vietnamese casualties incurred during the offensive–and the disillusionment over the early, overly optimistic reports of progress in the war–accelerated the growing disenchantment with President Lyndon B. Johnson’s conduct of the war.

Yes, Tet was a crushing military defeat for the PVAN/VC. Whatever effect this had on the political will of the American public was not part of the communist plan. It was a (very) lucky break. Glad we agree.

[jet57]

Yes, Tet was a crushing military defeat for the PVAN/VC. Whatever effect this had on the political will of the American public was not part of the communist plan. It was a (very) lucky break. Glad we agree.

Uh, that would be PAVN and they were not Viet Cong. They were two completely different armies fighting on the same side.

But yes, Walter Cronkite said that the War in Vietnam was now unwinnable.

[nathanbforrest45]

If something like that happened today all involved would be court-martialed.

Look at what happened in the Abu Ghrib case. Some prisoners were forced to stand naked in front of a female soldier and all of those involved were court martialed. Think of what would have happened if a group of soldiers destroyed an entire village on the off chance some were the enemy? Everyone from the General on down would pay the price.

I am not saying My Lai was justified, it probably wasn't but as Standing Wolf said the entire war was a total cluster$#@! from the get go. It was a civil war that the US had no real standing to become involved in. We lost over 50,000 men and women for absolutely nothing. Only God knows how many Vietnamese died at our hands. I always thought we should have either gone in balls to the walls and just taken over or gotten out completely. None of this half ass stuff we did over there.

[nathanbforrest45]

Actually one "win" for North Vietnam in the Tet Offensive was the annihilation of the Viet Cong by the United States. This removed a possible threat to North Vietnam's desire to unify the country. There was a possibility the VC would want to run South Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh couldn't allow that

[Mister D]

Actually one "win" for North Vietnam in the Tet Offensive was the annihilation of the Viet Cong by the United States. This removed a possible threat to North Vietnam's desire to unify the country. There was a possibility the VC would want to run South Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh couldn't allow that

Interesting point. I've seen it argued that because of the beating the VC took during Tet PAVN had to assume the leading role.

[Peter1469]

Uh, that would be PAVN and they were not Viet Cong. They were two completely different armies fighting on the same side.

But yes, Walter Cronkite said that the War in Vietnam was now unwinnable.

That was the beginning of the end....

[Mister D]

[/B]
That was the beginning of the end....

It's remarkable how quickly the PAVN/VC defeat in detail became a tide turning propaganda victory.

[jet57]

[/B]
That was the beginning of the end....

Yep. It was really over by the time we got there; the south was saturated with Viet Cong. We did every job we had to do and did it well, but it was a lost cause and it ruined this country and our reputation. That and the JFK assassination injured our soul.