Quote:
Originally Posted by GVChamp
If the US had decided to provide a limited support role, what would we have done? Just fly over weapons and bomb the NVA with B-52s?
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We had disrupted the Ho Chi Minh Trail with the B52 raids. Once these stopped, NVN was able to make it a super highway and in fact, built POL pipelines into SVN for the 1975 offensive.
Likewise, without the prospect of American support, there wasn't an assurance of back up to stiffen resolve. This made the retreat in the Central Highlands turn into a rout and finally a pursuit.
Aid, advisors, and CAS would have made a difference and definitely extended some life to SVN. Whether it would have been sufficient in the end, or have allowed enough breathing space to create an effective and self-sustaining SVN, it's easy to argue that it wouldn't have.
The above is lacking quite a few details, but it does get you towards the conclusion, which I think is valid.