To me, the problem since Vietnam is that the politicians took control of the fight rather than the professional soldiers. Politicians have no spine and cannot make the tough decisions it takes to win a war. Rather, they want to fight a “nice war” and the other side knows that. Get the politicians out of the decision making and the rules of engagement and the war will be shorter and end up saving American lives.
looking back, the tactics used were jaw dropping stupid...chasing these guys around in Asian jungles, good grief. Walt Rostow very early on told Johnson to put troops into Vingh where the Ho Chi Minh trail actually started, then unleash the Air Force on Hanoi..4 weeks tops that war would have been over...Johnson claimed he was afraid China or the Soviets would join in the fight.