What are reasons why the US failed to score quick victory against the Vietcong?

Answer 1

The effect was a protracted war. The why is both obscure and profound. First to the obsure: the concept of a war of containment implied that this was not a war to be fought and won, and if the former is true, protect yourself, this isn't worth committing your life to. In no other war in US history was a war fought with such an educated force. They were not the young riflemen of World War I who had an eighth grade education or the rifleman of WWII who as a child of the depression had fared little better, or of the Korean War where the frontline troop still was short of a high school education. The young troops of the Vietnam War were better educated. They could think and reason, many had interupted a college education to serve and they did not blindly or easily go to the slaughter.

The US Military had been divided for years on where the Defense dollars should be placed. The Air Force had been reciving funds at the expense of ground forces. The Army saw this as an opportunity to reverese the trend and that was the first profound rationale that encouraged acceptance of the war, the Army was ill equiped to fight any war and needed to re-equip since most of their assets were already positioned in Korea and Europe as per Cold War policy.

A quick defeat against the Viet Cong and the Viet Minh could not be achieved because the troops were committed to defend and not to attack.

Because US ground forces were unavailable.

Because bickering within the DoD prevented proper leadership to exist.

Because the US Military when commited when committed must be given a clear objective.

Because senior officers wanted advancement.

Because junior officers wanted advancement.

Because everyone wanted to survive a war without a clear objective.