Tactical Success and Strategic Confusion: Lessons Not Learned
03/19/2024
By Ed Timperlake
Recently, we interviewed David Evans, who has had an unusual career as a Vietnam War Marine, and then a decorated journalist.
This interview underscored a key element of the Vietnam War experience. Tactical victories and significant American and allied sacrifices to establish a free Vietnam were undercut by strategic direction from Washington making decisions with little regard to the facts on the ground.
Cubical commanders made strategic decisions: Marines and U.S. and allied forces achieved significant tactical victories. The two seemed to not mesh, which is an unfortunate U.S. pattern to be repeated notably in Iraq and Afghanistan with the disastrous blitzkrieg withdrawal from Afghanistan under President Biden.
David Evans USMC Artillery officer served at two of the most legionary Marine combat bases in the history of the Corps.
https://defense.info/featured-story/2024/03/tactical-success-and-strategic-confusion-lessons-not-learned/
