I was one of 550,000 Americans in uniform in Vietname in 66-67. LBJ & Whiz Kids had the same philosophy on Vietnam as the war on Poverty.... Throw enough money at it and you are bound to win.
I am no fan of Nixon or Kissinger... Voted for Libertarian Dick Gregory in 68, LP in 72. But Kissinger and Nixon cannot be blamed for Vietnam. They can be blamed for China.
If you voted for Dick Gregory and his Freedom and Peace Party in 1968 and then LP party in 72, you were radically far left.