Victory was victory in WW2 because the aggressors were bruised and damaged sufficiently such that they withdrew. Where were the Vietnamese going to withdraw to? Let's go FTSOA with a Vn population of 40m. How many killed would be victory? What industrial sites were there to be destroyed? If their main industry is ag., I reckon we could have amped up Agent Orange dispersal to 30, 40, and 50% of the nation to shut down their economy.

I dunno man, the word 'victory' doesn't seem to fit whatever we would have to have done to get them to say Uncle (Sam). And, if we had to leave forces in place forever to sustain that victory, would start to seem more like loss than a win.

__________________
1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K