The Price of Terror

[The_Rorschach]

We weren't discussing assets, we were discussing tactics. You stated flatly, Guerilla Fights Aren't Trying To Take And Hold Territories. Whether it is one Guerilla Fighter or one million is a moot point as it has nothing to do with your statement. Mao counts, and no amount of semantic wimpering on your part will negate it.

As for Vietnam, the NVA utilized the southern VC as cannon fodder to wear down resistance from southern ARVN installations by using them as preliminary spearhead skirmishers. The use of VC soldiers in this fashion was adopted as an intentional device on the part of the North Vietnamese politcal leadership in order for them to solidify their own power base without unnecessary sacrifice, and secondarily, dispersing the amount of individuals they would have to share power with afterwards.

The NVA battalions were kept in reserve in order to act as reinforcements, according to General Vo Nguyen Giap, in order to 'exploit any breakthroughs' opened by the VC. So, whether or not the US was defeated on the battlefield or not, the NVA did win the war and did so from the backs of the VC - Those pesky, yet effective, Guerilla Fighters you don't seem to enjoy crediting as anything more than a mild irritation.