Why was the Tet Offensive a turning point?

Why was the tet offensive considered the turning point of the Vietnam war?

• Answer:

  The Tet offensive is the name given to the offensive launched in 1968 against the American forces in Vietnam by the Vietcong guerrillas. It is so called because it coincided with the Chinese New Year of Tet. It was believed that the US forces were winning the war in Vietnam but by this offensive, which was spread all across Vietnam, the Vietcong showed that they were not defeated and that they could attack anywhere at will. The US forces suffered serious losses and the tide began to turn against the Americans. Moreover the American public at home became disillusioned with the war and rose in protest against it. This ultimately led to the defeat of the Americans in 1975. General Westmoreland declared that the Tet offensive was a major defeat for the Vietcong. From a military standpoint, he was right. The Vietcong lost about 32,000 soldiers during attacks. The United States and South Vietnam lost only 3,000 soldiers. The Tet offensive shattered America's confidence in the war. The Tet offensive lasted for a month. In 1968 the North Vietnamese and the Viet Cong launched their Tet Offensive. (Tet was the Vietnamese New Year) About 70,000 communist troops attacked about 30 South Vietnamese cities and towns. The Americans eventually were able to drive the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong troops out of those areas and the Offensive was over and a defeat for the North. But, it was a shock to the American public. They had not been led to believe that such an attack was capable on the part of the North or Viet Cong. The number of Americans killed and wounded continued to climb and were reported every evening on the TV news. The cost of the war had risen to about $70 million PER DAY. Yet victory for the US seemed as far away as ever. Public approval of President Johnson's handling of the war dropped from 40 percent to 26 percent. The President appeared visibly shaken. Close aides were so concerned about the President that they consulted psychiatrists. The Tet Offensive occurred during the Tet holiday in Vietnam in January 1968. Army and militia forces of the Peoples Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam) attacked the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam) and United States command & control, military and commercial centers. The purpose was to limit the ability of the US military and the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) to conduct military actions and to start a general uprising among the population that would destabilize the Republic of Vietnam government in Saigon. The offensive was very bold with attacks throughout the country and were well planned and coordinated. Some attacks were also very well publicized including the taking of the US Embassy in Saigon. However, the attacks all failed in their objectives and the militia (Viet Minh or Viet Cong) were decimated and never played a significant factor in the remaining part of the war. No civilian uprising ever occurred either. What was significant was the fact that American political and military leaders including the US President, Lyndon Johnson, Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara and the US Military commander, General Westmoreland had just completed interviews and speeches before the offensive, that stated that the "enemy" was almost defeated and could no longer make an effective fighting force. The Tet Offensive clearly indicated the lies that had been stated by US official and the American public lost confidence in their political leaders. McNamara was later fired and President Johnson did not run for re-election in 1968 causing discord in the Democratic party and the subsequent election of the Republican presidential candidate Richard Nixon who continued the war for another 5 years. The reason that some would say it was a turning point because it severely shook the American popular support for the war. However, despite the increase in public demonstrations, both violent and non-violent, the war still went on until Peace talks in 1973 in which American forces were withdrawn. The Saigon government eventually fell in April 1975 after a major offensive by the Hanoi government. The US Congress failed to provide military funds, such as ammunition and spare parts. There is a good bibliography for additional information at the link below. I would suggest the autobiography of Robert McNamara who was extremely candid about his part in the Vietnam war. I wished it was mandatory reading by US Presidents.