ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the impact of sending US combat forces to the Mekong Delta, the losses that they inflicted on their adversary and the Partys response to this challenge, the increasing pressures on the revolutionary cadres in the villages and, finally, the evidence that despite all these problems for the revolution. The United States and GVN forces were unable to turn the tide of the war decisively in their favor despite an extended period of heavy US military involvement. Escalating revolutionary pressure on the towns and cities suggests that the Communist Party had concluded the best defense was a good offense, and began to stress a more aggressive strategic and tactical posture for every level of military force. The obstacles to mobilizing the villagers were as much situational as the psychological. The cadres were simply unable to gather the groups of villagers together.
