History Extra podcast Could the US have won the Vietnam war?
33 snips
Apr 13, 2025 Geoffrey Wawro, a historian and author of *The Vietnam War: A Military History*, dives deep into the complexities of U.S. involvement in Vietnam. He unpacks how flawed strategies from Truman to Nixon doomed the American campaign. Wawro reveals Nixon's secret negotiations that backfired spectacularly. The conversation also highlights the harsh realities faced by troops and critiques the impacts of pivotal events like the Tet Offensive. Throughout, he paints a vivid picture of the military, political miscalculations, and the war's long-lasting consequences.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
US Policy Shift on Colonialism
- Post-WWII, US policy shifted from opposing colonialism to supporting it to contain communism.
- This change stemmed from the rise of communism in East Europe, China, and the domino theory regarding Vietnam.
Presidential Reputations and Vietnam
- The US involvement in Vietnam was driven by presidential reputations, not solely by strategic necessity.
- Politicians exaggerated the threat of communism to bolster their national security credentials.
Flawed Vietnam War Strategy
- The Vietnam War strategy was hampered by fear of Chinese/Soviet intervention and budgetary constraints.
- This led to ineffective 'graduated pressure' and bombing mostly within South Vietnam, harming civilians.
