A critical analysis of the vietnam war is a wellwritten by harry g. Summers was an infantry colonel in the united states army, and had served as a squad leader in the korean war and as a battalion and corps. Analysis vietnam war vanderbilt television news archive. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read on strategy. Summers inspired analysis of americas war in vietnam answers the most. Military strategy and tactics are essential to the conduct of warfare. Nlf and pavn strategy, organization and structure wikipedia.
A critical analysis of the vietnam war harry g summers the american militarys rationale against the vietnam war summers inspired analysis of americas war in vietnam answers the most pressing questions remaining from that terrible conflict more than a decade before. Summers study of the war, american strategy in vietnam. Colonel harry summers begins this concise and fascinating study of american strategy in vietnam by disposing of two myths. A critical analysis of the vietnam war ebook written by harry g. Max cleland, atlanta journal constitution required reading at the national, naval, and air war colleges, as well as other high level military institutions throughout the united states, american strategy in vietnam has become one of the mostwell. He had served as a squad leader in the korean war and as a battalion and corps operations officer in the vietnam war. It has been american history that whenever it involved in any war, it had to come across much difficult and unpleasant situations.
The most prominent citation for the apocryphal story comes in harry g. The author, a colonel on the staff of the army war college, has reexamined military strategy and tactics in the light of our experience in the vietnam war. A critical analysis of the vietnam war novato, on strategy. To link to this object, paste this link in email, im or document to embed this object, paste this html in website. The conduct of war is among the most important acts of the state. His analysis extends well beyond the battlefield to congress, the political leadership and the people. The leading voice of the clausewitzian school was u. A critical analysis of the vietnam war summers, harry g. A critical analysis of the vietnam war, by harry g. Each conflict has components which mark for simple and uncomplicated evaluation to the previous ones. A critical analysis of the vietnam war, which took revisionism in a different direction by criticizing civilian leaders for doing too little to mobilize the american public and the u.
Stunning in its insight, on strategy is required reading not just for everyone who is interested in the vietnam war, but for anyone who is concerned about the place of the united states on the world stage and how america can, and more importantly cannot, employ its immense military force to help bring peace to an increasingly troubled world. May 6, 1932 november 14, 1999 is best known as the author of the neo clausewitzean analysis of the vietnam war titled, on strategy. Pressured and encouraged by the kennedy administration to concentrate on counterinsurgency warfare and preoccupied with dealing with. Us pentagon will keep fighting in syria until they win the. The first part of the analysis examines admiral sharps conclusions using the works of carl. A critical analysis of vietnam war in comparison with. Time a masterful analysis of the strategy, or lack thereof, in the vietnam war. To link to this object, paste this link in email, im or. Feb 04, 2009 stunning in its insight, on strategy is required reading not just for everyone who is interested in the vietnam war, but for anyone who is concerned about the place of the united states on the world stage and how america can, and more importantly cannot, employ its immense military force to help bring peace to an increasingly troubled world. In 1988 harry summers became the founding editor of vietnam magazine. Summers in pursuit of its policy of containment, the united states entered the war in vietnam on the strategic defensive. Essential on strategy a critical analysis of the vietnam war did you know thatmadame ngo dinh nhu was a single of most stylish females of the 20th century. The analysis of the vietnam war continues to be highly controversial and interacts with ongoing debates in as nuclear confrontation gave way to nuclear parity in the 1960s and early 1970s, limited war in vietnam proved far less successful than in the korean war less than 20 years before.
Summers uses clausewitz to castigate the civilians responsible for vietnam, president johnson and secretary mcnamaras systems analysts, for failing to set objectives with a chance of victory. Walter cronkite dc south vietnamnorth vietnam engaging in war of nerves. Definition of the trinity as people, army, and government seems to have originated in harry summerss important and influential study, on strategy. A capstone project submitted to the graduate school camden. The best critique of the war i have read and a book every policy maker in washington. On strategy a critical analysis of the vietnam war. Westmoreland, up until about april 10, 1968, which is when general creighton abrams replaced westmoreland and radically altered american strategy in. The front endpaper has been neatly removed, does not appear to be an exlibrary edition.
In the 1950s and 1960s,she was initial lady of south vietnam. Summers uses clausewitz to castigate the civilians responsible for vietnam, president johnson and secretary mcnamaras systems analysts, for failing to set. A critical analysis of the vietnam war, became an instant classic within the military. A masterful analysis of the strategy, or lack thereof, in the vietnam war. Pdf a critical analysis of vietnam war in comparison. The war in vietnam isaac keister western oregon university. Broadly stated, strategy is the planning, coordination, and general direction of military operations to meet overall political and military objectives. The best critique of the war i have read and a book every policy maker in washington should absorb. In the last century alone, failure in this undertaking has toppled governments and imposed hostile occupation under a conquerors rule for hundreds of millions from paris to warsaw and tokyo to jakarta. The best critique of the war i have read and a book every policy maker in.
A politicomilitary assessment of the vietnam war analyzing the u. A critical analysis of the vietnam war argued that the viet cong guerrillas provided a distraction so north vietnamese regular forces could reach a decision in conventional battles. Immediately after the gulf war he wrote on strategy ii. Vietnam in retrospect, as a guide to the future employment of air power in a limited war. A critical analysis of vietnam war in comparison with afghan war. Summers was an infantry colonel in the united states army, and had served as a squad leader in the korean war and as a battalion and corps operations officer in the vietnam war. Particularly relevant today, it stresses the futility of any military action without the full support of the people. A critical analysis of the vietnam war lexile find a. The leading proponent of this point of view was colonel harry summers, whose book on strategy. As world war i came to a close, a young vietnamese patriot named nguyen that thanh arrived in paris to speak with the powerful men negotiating the terms for peace.
First, it is an outstanding critical study and assessment of american conduct of the vietnam war under the administration of president lyndon johnson and his theatre commander, general william c. In the magazines premiere issue he clearly defined its mission and its principles when he wrote, the goal we here at vietnam magazine have set for ourselves is to find the key to. Title author type language date edition publication. Sep 14, 2017 the vietnam war is less an indictment than a lament. May 6, 1932 november 14, 1999 is best known as the author of the neoclausewitzean analysis of the vietnam war titled, on strategy. This important book is one mans critical analysis of american strategy in the vietnam war. Tactics implement strategy by shortterm decisions on the movement of troops and employment of weapons on the field of battle. Some soiling to the book edges and chips to the dj, presents nicely in mylar. The vietnam war is less an indictment than a lament.
Colonel summers also examines those principles as set down in the us army field manuals, the texts used by the army to craft strategy and tactics. The book demonstrates the power of clausewitzs theories about war and the. A critical analysis of the vietnam war a presidio press book critical analysis of the vietnam war. North vietnam threatens entry communist china into war, doubtful either event will happen. Success in war requires clarity in political and military objectives.
Laos remains critical test of strategy and vietnamization. Aug 12, 2015 august 12, 2015 uncategorized analysis, critical, strategy, vietnam cipcahulpo1977 essential on strategy a critical analysis of the vietnam war did you know thatmadame ngo dinh nhu was a single of most stylish females of the 20th century. During the second indochina war, better known as the vietnam war, a distinctive land warfare strategy and organization was used by the national liberation front of south vietnam nlf or better known as the viet cong vc in the west, and the peoples army of vietnam pavn or north vietnamese army nva to defeat their american and south vietnamese army of the republic of vietnam arvn. The vietnam war was americas first modern war, with all the recognizable elements. Abstract each conflict has components which mark for simple and uncomplicated evaluation to the previous ones. A critical analysis of vietnam war in comparison with afghan war muhammad saleem mazhar university of the punjab. Harry g summers summers inspired analysis of americas war in vietnam answers the most pressing questions remaining from that terrible conflict more than a decade before robert mcnamaras painful admissions. Army colonel and korean warvietnam war vet harry summers, whose 1982 book, on strategy. That man, harry summers, is an active army officer who began professional life as an enlisted soldier, knows personally the bayonetpoint reality of war, and has thought widely about strategic issues. On strategy is the cornerstone of the revisionist school of vietnam war historiographythose who argue that the war was ultimately winnable with a greater degree of military commitment. Pdf a critical analysis of vietnam war in comparison with.
1205 399 1194 850 586 741 1350 356 668 146 1571 924 1621 30 696 71 1106 820 700 299 911 437 1247 103 253 54 357 813 1282 1621 463 333 1593 129 1297 742 90 16 871 564 981 523