Page 483 - The Viet-Cong Tet_Offensive_1968

CONCLUSION

THE Tet Offensive was the largest carnpaign ever staged by the
Viet Cong, It took thern over a year to Prepare lt and all of their
resources and resourcefulness to execute the plan of battle that they
hoped would shift the rnilitary balance in their favor.
Now that the carnpaign has corne to an end with both
success and failure characterising its developrnent. The carnpaign
rnarks a definite turning point in the Vietnarn cri.sis which ernphasizes
the f ollowing point s :
In the first place, the rrTetrr offensive brought the
fighting war to a new degree of intensity in which new strategic and
tactical concepts were initiated, The new Viet Cong strategy was
rnainly based on our subjectiwe assessrnent of the enernyrs capabilities
and their troop deployrnents in-country and diplornatic rnoves abroad.
A11 rnoves were airned at striking a decisive blow, Tactically, the
Viet Cong relied on surprise attacks - in the daytirne, during a
holiday period and in the course of a holiday ceasefire.

In the second place, the general offensive carnpaign
soon becarne a general retreat. In bringing the war into the cities'
the enerny also cornrnitted two rnistakes : the deployrnent of an arrny
of guerrillas in cities, and their inacurate assessrnent of popular
support. These two rristakes resulted in the total failure of their
offensive campaign.

In the third place, it sornehow brought about the joint
partici.pation of US and Viet Cong delegations in the Paris conference.
The opening of the Paris talks could be explained by Hanoirs weariness
and Washingtonrs desire to placate anti-war sentirnenta both in the
US and abroad. This is definitely a turning point in the struggle which
then becarne rnore political than military although the fir'st stage of
the talks brought about nothing drarnatic.
'
On the side of the Republic of Vietnarn arrned forces,
the rrTettr developrnents indicated the following shortcornings : (1) Over-
conJidence in oners strength, thus a prevailing rnood of complacency
in every walk of life. Too rnuch seLf -interest which was incompatible
with the conditions ln a country at war. These shortcornings can be

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