This paper aims at making a historical-comparative analysis of the battle of Dien Bien Phu and the Tet Offensive in terms of their Intelligence failures. In the two battles, the Americans and the...Show moreThis paper aims at making a historical-comparative analysis of the battle of Dien Bien Phu and the Tet Offensive in terms of their Intelligence failures. In the two battles, the Americans and the French failed dramatically to understand their opponent. This research analyzes the events from the perspective of the Western powers on the one hand, and from the point of view of the Vietnamese Communist on the other hand. On the side of the French and the Americans, three elements are analyzed, namely 1) Overconfidence, 2) Lack of clear policy goals, and 3) Lack of adjustment to Guerilla Warfare. To analyze the events from the perspective of the Vietnamese Communists, the following three elements are being studied, 1) Capabilities, 2) Motivation, and 3) Deception. Those six elements contributed to the intelligence failures of those two battles.Show less
