Misjudgment of Resolve
American leaders fatally underestimated North Vietnamese determination to unify their country. Pentagon planners believed bombing campaigns would force Hanoi to negotiate on U.S. terms. North Vietnamese forces absorbed staggering casualties yet continued fighting with remarkable discipline. General William Westmoreland repeatedly requested more troops while promising victory. The North Vietnamese strategy of outlasting American political will proved effective. Their famous saying—”You will have the watches, but we will have the time”—captured this patience-based approach to the conflict.
