A critical analysis of the vietnam war written at the u. One early answer to the question was offered by colonel harry summers, jr. 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. On strategy a critical analysis of the vietnam war by summers. But what he did was he interviewed the people he was treating and it was one of the great examples of breaking through the statistics. A masterful analysis of the strategy, or lack thereof, in 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. This important book is one mans critical analysis of american strategy in the vietnam war. Summers inspired analysis of americas war in vietnam answers the most. 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. A critical analysis of the vietnam war, never gained the wide triumph forsaken.
A critical analysis dover military history, weapons, armor kindle edition by summers, harry g. A critical analysis of vietnam war in comparison with afghan war muhammad saleem mazhar university of the punjab. This campaign, which occurred in december 1972, was the last major u. 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. Feb 11, 2015 the malayan emergency 19481960 has been popularly mounted upon a high pedestal. Success in war requires clarity in political and military objectives. Crackling with keen insight and clarity, this invaluable resource has renewed the study of strategy and its vital relationship to the art of war. Summers was an infantry squad leader in the korean war and a battalion and corps operations officer in the vietnam war.
Pdf a critical analysis of vietnam war in comparison with afghan. A critical analysis of the vietnam war ebook description. This paper is an attempt to analyze whether vietnam war, fought 48 years. A critical analysis of the vietnam war summers, harry g. Free shipping and pickup in store on eligible orders. 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 war book iii, of strategy in general, chapters ivi. Following clausewitz classic overview, summers meticulously shows how the u. A critical analysis of the vietnam war by summers, harry jr. 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. We use metaphors and analogies to help us connect the dots and uncover hidden patterns of thought. This was a book i read before i went to vietnam and it was written by an army doctor who wasnt even there.
A read is counted each time someone views a publication summary such as the title, abstract, and list of authors, clicks on a figure, or views or downloads the fulltext. Try to make relationship while using book on strategy. 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. Our failure to appreciate what this posture entailed contributed to our ultimate failure.
Vietnam war bibliography by richard jensen jensen is a scholar with many books and articles. Kindle ebooks can be read on any device with the free kindle app. The army was unsuccessful in vietnam, summers says, because it fought the wrong kind of war. Max cleland, atlanta journal constitutionrequired 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. Therefore it need a free signup process to obtain the book. A critical analysis of the vietnam war in pdf and epub format. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading american strategy in vietnam. A critical analysis of vietnam war in comparison with afghan. The final book on your list of books about the vietnam war is 365 days. You can spend your own spend time to read your reserve. 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 best critique of the war i have read and a book every policy maker in washington should absorb. The books history as a war college study also explains some biases and omissions.
Strategy and tactics, however, have been viewed differently in almost every era of history. On strategy does live up to the title of critically analyzing the vietnam conflict, but. Jack beatty, boston globe this investigation of the u. Army training and doctrine command is preparing the army for the future of warfare in big picture, not details, key when eyeing. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers.
Vietnam during world war iiaugust 1945 revolution 1939 45 from 194145, vietnam was subjected to a francojapanese double yoke, the french and japanese, shared their endeavors in order to take advantage of the countrys capitals to the maximum for sustaining law and other and hold back the revolutionary movement. A critical analysis dover military history, weapons, armor. There were two major wars against the communists in vietnam. Those are old fears, says a scholar who contends its a myth that during the two world wars, men signed up in droves to fight. In his analysis, he uses the standards of clausewitz as stated in on war. Its focus is on what went wrong, what went right, as well as what needed to improve. May 6, 1932 november 14, 1999 is best known as the author of the neoclausewitzean analysis of the vietnam war titled, on strategy. Summers uses clausewitz to castigate the civilians responsible for vietnam. The term first achieved prominence in somewhat skewed form in u. Abstract each conflict has components which mark for simple and uncomplicated evaluation to the previous ones. 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. 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.
In pursuit of its policy of containment, the united states entered the war in vietnam on the strategic defensive. Book iii, of strategy in general, chapters ivi summary and analysis. On stategy is just about the best thing i have read on vietnam. A critical analysis of the vietnam war has 1 available editions to buy at half price books marketplace. Colonel summers is perhaps the most influential thinker of our time. It would be silly to say that moral and mental elements can be ignored in strategy but to some extent they are only relevant at the more abstract levels.
For clausewitz, strategy is the use of battle to achieve the aims of war. They provide us with a way to go far beyond the meaning of words and are tools guiding the manner in which we think and act. To hear more feature stories, download the audm app for your iphone. Pressured and encouraged by the kennedy administration to concentrate on counterinsurgency warfare and preoccupied with dealing with. This meant, for instance, that summers excellent first book, on strategy. Role and strategies during the vietnam war history essay. The leading voice of the clausewitzian school was u. Colonel summers offers a critical analysis on the pursuit of the war in vietnam, strictly from a military strategy standpoint he stays out of the ideological arena. The best vietnam war books five books expert recommendations. On strategy a critical analysis of the vietnam war. Richard nixon was elected in 1968 in part on the strength of his promise to withdraw american forces from vietnam and end the war on favorable terms. Harry g summers 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. Welcome,you are looking at books for reading, the on strategy a critical analysis of the vietnam war, you will able to read or download in pdf or epub books and notice some of author may have lock the live reading for some of country.
Sep 11, 2010 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. He later served on the faculty of the army war college and worked as the editor of vietnam magazine and as a nationally syndicated columnist on national defense and security affairs. 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. Mowing that a decisive military victory in vietnam was unlikely, nixons goal became withdrawal conducted in stages as the administration simultaneously undertook negotiations with the north to. A critical analysis of the vietnam war from the worlds largest community of readers. Use the button available on this page to download or read a book online. Here you can download all books for free in pdf or epub format. His analysis extends well beyond the battlefield to congress, the political leadership and the people. A critical analysis of the vietnam war 0891411569 by summers, harry g. That disturbing question was the reason for this book. Time a masterful analysis of the strategy, or lack thereof, in the vietnam war. This book, like many war books, is more interesting as an artifact of historiography than it is as actual history. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Colonel harry summers begins this concise and fascinating study of american strategy in vietnam by disposing of two myths.
Colonel summers also examines those principles as set down in the us army field manuals, the texts used by the army to craft strategy. Vietnam war news, research and analysis the conversation. Summers jr summers inspired analysis of americas war in vietnam answers the most pressing questions remaining from that terrible conflict more than a decade before robert. In 1992 he wrote a book on that war titled, on strategy ii. A critical analysis of the vietnam war is not only giving you considerably more new information but also to be your friend when you sense bored. 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. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. A critical analysis of vietnam war in comparison with. Vietnam in retrospect, as a guide to the future employment of air power in a limited war.
Enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app. It has become symbolic as a victory standing bold and near alone amidst a sea of unpopular and failed smallwars fought by the great powers during the withdrawal from empire. Apr 01, 2020 an iranian generals killing sparked fears of war and a draft in the us. For many westerners, the vietnam war summons images of american soldiers patrolling rice paddies, battling an elusive enemy as helicopters circle overhead. Thus, instead of using an ineffective strategy, the enclave strategy, he persuaded johnson another strategy which is called the war of attrition. Assessing the british counterinsurgency effort in malaya. A critical analysis of vietnam war in comparison with afghan war.
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