The Vietnam War Analysis
According to Clausewitz, “war is nothing but a duel on a larger scale… immediate aim is to throw his opponent in order to make him incapable of further resistance” (Clausewitz, P75). As a result, one of the most important ways to win a war is to know the kind of conflict you’re fighting. It must also include a good understanding of the enemy at hand. For all the compelling reasons, that awareness will allow the development of effective strategy encompassing all elements of national power.
This argument was exemplified during the Vietnam War (1965 to 1973). In part, United States and the South Vietnam regime’s failure can be attributed to the lack of understanding of the nature of the war and its enemy. Following the Battle of la Drang Valley in November 1965, the enemy switched to guerrilla warfare and the US failed to adapt accordingly. Instead of recognizing the true nature of the war, the US continued to approach this conflict in the most conventional manner, neglecting to integrate all instruments of national power into the overall strategy – to include adapting the military element, as well as the effective use of the intelligence, diplomatic and law enforcement. Furthermore, the use of the instruments of national power disproportionately favored other …show more content…
While Japan used similar attack in the past against Russia and managed to maintain a limited war, the Pearl Harbor attack resulted in an unlimited war for which Japan did not anticipate and was very ill-prepared. In fact, the nature of the war may not be the same as a result of an attack on Russian fleet versus an attack on US territory and fleet. Because Japan did not understand the nature of the Pacific War and its enemy, she failed to prepare and therefore to integrate all instruments of its national power, be it diplomatic or intelligence,
This argument was exemplified during the Vietnam War (1965 to 1973). In part, United States and the South Vietnam regime’s failure can be attributed to the lack of understanding of the nature of the war and its enemy. Following the Battle of la Drang Valley in November 1965, the enemy switched to guerrilla warfare and the US failed to adapt accordingly. Instead of recognizing the true nature of the war, the US continued to approach this conflict in the most conventional manner, neglecting to integrate all instruments of national power into the overall strategy – to include adapting the military element, as well as the effective use of the intelligence, diplomatic and law enforcement. Furthermore, the use of the instruments of national power disproportionately favored other …show more content…
While Japan used similar attack in the past against Russia and managed to maintain a limited war, the Pearl Harbor attack resulted in an unlimited war for which Japan did not anticipate and was very ill-prepared. In fact, the nature of the war may not be the same as a result of an attack on Russian fleet versus an attack on US territory and fleet. Because Japan did not understand the nature of the Pacific War and its enemy, she failed to prepare and therefore to integrate all instruments of its national power, be it diplomatic or intelligence,