The idea that the war in Vietnam was ever a “victory” is absurd, just as is the idea that our involvement in Iraq ended in “victory”.
Victory is MacArthur getting off a C-47 at Haneda and walking down the main street unmolested. Victory is a decree abolishing the SS and having them all obey.
Victory is NOT having the US puppet government overthrown the minute we turn our backs.
Agreed; there is no victory without the enemy having totally lost the will to fight.
We had the Vietnam War won in 1970; the North Vietnamese were preparing to seek a truce.
Jane Fonda, John Kerry et al convinced General Giap to stick it out, and they would build the anti-war movement to get the US to give-up.
Had we not abandoned our treaty obligations to the South Vietnamese, they may very well have been able to hold their own against the North.