Posted on Nov 21, 2017
Westmoreland tells media the communists are losing - Nov 21, 1967 - HISTORY.com
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Gen. William Westmoreland, commander of U.S. Military Assistance Command Vietnam, tells U.S. news reporters: “I am absolutely certain that whereas in 1965 the enemy was winning, today he is certainly losing.”
Having been reassured by the general, most Americans were stunned when the communists launched a massive offensive during the Vietnamese Tet New Year holiday on January 30, 1968. During this offensive, communist forces struck 36 of 44 provincial capitals, 5 of 6 autonomous cities, 64 of 242 district capitals and about 50 hamlets. At one point during the initial attack on Saigon, communists troops actually penetrated the ground floor of the U.S. Embassy.
The fighting raged all over South Vietnam and lasted almost until the end of February. Overcoming the initial surprise of the attack, the U.S. and South Vietnamese forces recovered and ultimately inflicted a major military defeat on the communists. Nevertheless, Hanoi won a great psychological victory by launching such a widespread attack after Westmoreland assured the American people that the corner had been turned in South Vietnam. As a result of the unexpected Tet Offensive, many Americans came out forcefully against the war. Even CBS television anchorman Walter Cronkite, widely regarded as the most trusted man in American, publicly questioned U.S. policy in Vietnam
Having been reassured by the general, most Americans were stunned when the communists launched a massive offensive during the Vietnamese Tet New Year holiday on January 30, 1968. During this offensive, communist forces struck 36 of 44 provincial capitals, 5 of 6 autonomous cities, 64 of 242 district capitals and about 50 hamlets. At one point during the initial attack on Saigon, communists troops actually penetrated the ground floor of the U.S. Embassy.
The fighting raged all over South Vietnam and lasted almost until the end of February. Overcoming the initial surprise of the attack, the U.S. and South Vietnamese forces recovered and ultimately inflicted a major military defeat on the communists. Nevertheless, Hanoi won a great psychological victory by launching such a widespread attack after Westmoreland assured the American people that the corner had been turned in South Vietnam. As a result of the unexpected Tet Offensive, many Americans came out forcefully against the war. Even CBS television anchorman Walter Cronkite, widely regarded as the most trusted man in American, publicly questioned U.S. policy in Vietnam
Westmoreland tells media the communists are losing - Nov 21, 1967 - HISTORY.com
Posted from history.com
Vietnam War
American History
Military History
Posted 7 y ago
Responses: 4
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I feel the failures in this war were too numerous for any General to overcome,a corrupt government in the south,an unconventional war where our forces were ill equipped to fight,our own Military racked by drugs, race riots ,no support at home and yet even after all those horrible setbacks ,most of those that served did so with honor and sacrifice ,but then they did it for each other,for all they had in the end was each other.
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SP5 Mark Kuzinski
Without proper backing from the top as well as those back home, this war was committed to failure.
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Can't help but feel sorry for Gen Westmoreland - a horrible way to end an illustrious career in service to one's country - asked to lead an unwinnable & losing war in the face of an overwhelming negative public opinion from the very people you are supposed to be protecting and defending
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The 1969 Tet offensive actually broke the Viet Cong as an effective fighting force, they were no longer able to put together the large numbers like that again. The anti War people actually were responsible for North Viet Nam hanging in longer instead of throwing in the towel. When the US pulled out they abandoned the South Vietnamese and didn't even provide the equipment that was needed to defend themselves against the Communist onslaught. It was so bad often they didn't even have ammunition for their weapons to defend against an invading force while both Russia and China supplied North Viet Nam. The failure of the US Congress to keep their promises to South Viet Nam gave the country to the Communist. Seems once again congress has no concept of what their job is and again keeps proving they can't be counted on or trusted.
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