1954 Geneva Accord, hearts and minds, etc.

The opposition to US involvment in Vietnam included the US itself.

At the 1954 Geneva Accord, it pointedly refused to sign the accord that created the line at the 17th latitude. Soon after, it waged total war to defend the same line.

Johnson raised the notion of hearts and minds, albeit in reference to the Vietnamese. The phrase was rarely used in military science, with scant recognition in either strategy or tactic. It is, of course, vital. Nonetheless, the US tried to wage war without its heart and, lastly, without its mind.

In reference to response 186, Adcox: Vietnam war protesters were not stupid, or, partisan. We opposed every president, regardless of party affiliation, that waged that war. Nixon was a complex problem. For popularity, he promised to end the war, and almost did,resigning shortly before. He did end the draft, but only in his second term. He seems to have bled the war for as much as he could: consider that, as commander in chief, all he had to do was order "about face" in January of 1969. Compare that with what he did instead.

Arthur Toegemann 2004 (c)(p)