Re: Ddie^.n Bie^n Phu?

[Aiviet Nguyen <aiviet@cat.syr.edu>]

Hi ANh Trung,

On Thu, 8 May 1997, Nguyen Tuan Trung wrote:

> Hi anh Aiviet 
> >   Before Nava, the "Chie^'n Di.ch Ddo^`ng ba(`ng", "Na` sa?n" were failures 
> Perhaps you should have said whose failures they were. As far as I
> remember
> these campaigns were recognized as _our_,to the very least, "failing to
> reach
> objectives". 

   I belonged to qua^n Ta, so I meant our failures. At DDo^`ng Ba(`ng 
offensive, the french appled napalm for the first time and VM soldiers were
panic believing that it was atomic bomb.
  At Na` Sa?n I think the defense system was in " Con Nhi'm" and VN was 
not very happy with it.
  Gen Gia'p learned lessons from these offensives.

 
> But had it not been for General Giap's choice
> of the right tactics, a force even twice as big would have been crushed
> easily by
> French firepower in a massive frontal attack.
> 
  Agreed. But I don't know what exactly that tactics is. I am only sure that
Gen. Taylor wished to command Vnmese soldiers, he said he could win most 
of wars in the world. If Mr Taylor could, a lot of Gens. would.

   However, it is not to say that I don't admire Gen VNG and his 
contribution at DBP. In fact DBP is unseparable from his name.

Cheers
Aiviet

> Best,
> Trung
>