On Strategy: A Critical Analysis of the Vietnam War Summary and Reviews

On Strategy: A Critical Analysis of the Vietnam War
by Harry G. Summers

On Strategy: A Critical Analysis of the Vietnam War
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Book Summary Information

Author: Harry G. Summers
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 1995-01-25
ISBN: 0891415637
Number of pages: 225
Publisher: Presidio Press

Book Reviews of On Strategy: A Critical Analysis of the Vietnam War

Book Review: Ojective and Unity Of Command
Summary: 5 Stars

On Strategy is a careful postmortem on the American phase of the Viet Nam War. Col. Summers analyzes why we failed in Viet Nam; as B. B. Fall did for the French. America forgot some of the basic principles of war.
Their was never a clearly stated Objective for our efforts. In Washington the President and Congress vacillated and compromised trying to judge the political ramifications instead of the military.
A second major fault was in the execution of the war. Their was no Unity of Command. The Commanding General in Viet Nam only commanded the Army. The Navy, Marines, and Air Force were consulting but not under his command.
The President and Sec. of Defense ran the war from Washington dictating tactical as well as strategic policy and targets, which could change from day to day.
Even with these crippling defects the defeat of South Viet Nam was only assured by passage of the Church Amendment, which promised North Viet Nam
that we would give the south no aid in any form no matter what. Thus North Viet Nam was able to reverse the defeat of 1972 Ester Offensive, and win in 1975 against a completely dispirited South.
I often wonder how Israel, or South Korea would have fared with a similar
Amendment.

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