USA HISTORY

PROTESTS ACTIVISM AND CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE 1954 1973

THE STUDENT MOVEMENT OF THE 1960S

Question [CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
General Westmoreland pursued an “attrition strategy, “ meaning that the United States wanted to
A
use napalm to defoliate forest hiding areas
B
inflict enemy casualties at a faster rate than replacements could be found
C
rely on superior air power to demoralize the enemy
D
encourage the defection of large numbers of enemy troops
Explanation: 

Detailed explanation-1: -His strategy of attrition aimed to inflict heavy losses on North Vietnamese and Viet Cong forces using superior U.S. firepower, but resulted in a costly stalemate by late 1967.

Detailed explanation-2: -Westmoreland decided on a war of attrition, one in which the enemy body count was the key measure of merit, and “search and destroy” was the dominant tactical approach. In response to repeated requests from Westmoreland for more forces, the American commitment eventually grew to well over a half million troops.

Detailed explanation-3: -NARRATOR: In Vietnam, General Westmoreland’s strategy was to fight a war of attrition. He called it “search and destroy.” American forces would search out the enemy, make contact, and then, with superior numbers and firepower, destroy him.

Detailed explanation-4: -Meanwhile, Westmoreland, with the support of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, argued that the war could be won, but only if he sent 200, 000 more troops and widened the aerial campaign.

There is 1 question to complete.