Vietnamization did succeed. By the end of 1971, the Viet Cong was contained if not moribund. Had we armed South Vietnam with weapons and honored our security guarantee, in 1974-75 the north would never have invaded or they would have been repulsed. Sadly, the two greatest victories for the communists were the false reporting of the Tet Offensive and the Watergate Scandal. The first pushed the Democrats to the left and the second gave the leftists power.
36 posted on
03/11/2012 7:28:18 PM PDT by
rmlew
("Mosques are our barracks, minarets our bayonets, domes our helmets, the believers our soldiers.")
ARVN's had plenty of weapons, they just failed to employ them properly. Example-they walked away from over 100 airplanes at Da Nang. Poor/corrupt/incompetent leadership. Their army never recovered from the staggering losses of their best forces during Op Lam Son 719. Pres. Thieu pulled back from Central Highlands position. Big mistake. He then pulled his best forces (Marines/Airborne)out of MR 1. Another major mistake. He failed to issue orders to his commanders at Da Nang, and as a result, the commander said,"Every man for himself!" The country folded up like a $7 suitcase.
But yes, America stood by and watched, hamstrung by Democrat freezing of funds for the war. No air cover (U.S.A.). Results predictable...