Episode Details

Geoffrey Wawro, guest author, describes how Westmoreland's strategy consisted of three phases: a massive logistical buildup, crushing search-and-destroy operations, and eventually handing the war over to a capable South Vietnamesearmy. However, the plan faltered because the vast majority of operations never made contact with the enemy, who chose to protract the war to exhaust American patience. The metric of success became the "body count," yet the NVAmaintained strategic patience. Regarding the sanctuaries in Cambodia and Laos, Johnson initially respected their technical neutrality to avoid international backlash and a wider conflict. Revisionists argue for earlier incursions, but the vast, trackless jungles were already controlled by the NVA, making permanent clearance nearly impossible without a massive, unsustainable troop commitment. This segment highlights how the war's financial and political costs began to fray American resolve early on. The Vietnam War: A Military History (3)