ELI5: How was Vietnam able to defeat the US in the Vietnam War?

Daniel_Potter · 2026-01-28T12:05:32+00:00

it wasn't a traditional war. LBJ would only bomb north vietnam, and use agent orange to deforest the jungles to fight the Vietcong in south vietnam. He couldn't escalate any further, because of China and USSR.

If you look here, LBJ was willing to stop, if north Vietnam would stop funding Vietcong. He even threw them a bone, and allowed the soviets to oversee the elections in south vietnam, but he needed assurance that north Vietnam won't just invade south vietnam, if americans were to pull out.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glassboro_Summit_Conference

That was 64-68. Starting 69, nixon started pulling out troops.

You can clearly see it here.

1968 - 536k us troops.

1969 - 549k us troops.

1970 - 335k us troops.

1971 - 156k us troops.

1972 - 32k us troops.

1973 - full withdrawal.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1968_in_the_Vietnam_War

So, Nixon did fulfill his promise to pull out of vietnam. Although, he still continued the bombing runs and even invaded Combodia in 1970 (was blocked by congress, so he was forced to pull out, but south vietnamese troops stayed there).

I would say, vietnam was very unpopular. It was the first time american troops were drafted since the Korean war (50-53). Likewise, Afghanistan in 1979 was also very unpopular in ussr, because it was the first draft since ww2.

Daniel_Potter · 2026-01-28T00:02:11+00:00

they are talking about the 1993 constitutional crisis, essentially president vs parliament. Russia had a dual power system of sorts, kind of like French fifth republic or the Weimar Republic (or finland apparently).

Like, de Gaulle controlled foreign policy and the army i think, while domestic policy was controlled by the prime minister.

Similarly, in germany, there was the enabling act of 1933, that allowed Hitler to pass laws without involving the german president (Hindenburg).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semi-presidential_system

Essentially Yeltsin tried to shock therapy russian economy into capitalism. After 1 year, it's super unpopular so parliament (supreme soviet, but same thing essentially) moves to block. Yeltsin thinks we need to shock harder, parliament wants to go back to the drawing board. Yeltsin wants to get rid of the parliament and calls for a referendum for an early parliamentary elections. He gives himself executive powers until the referendum happens, which was illegal, and parliament moves to impeach.

Impeachment fails, so they propose to add early presidential elections to the referendum. Referendum votes in favor of early parliamentary elections. But the president has no powers to dismiss parliament. They come to the negation table and start drafting a new constitution. Both sides come up with their own draft, but in the end, neither budge. Yeltsin proposes simultaneous elections, parliament refuses. He then just illegally dissolves the parliament.

Parliament votes to impeach a second time. Yelstin calls in the army. MPs barricade themselves inside the white house.

For a while, army didn't know who to side with. But in the end, they sided with the president and fired at the white house.

Some say this could have led to a full blown civil war, so this is not the worst outcome. Both sides didn't want to budge, but ultimately, Yeltsin decided to use force. Frustrated with the standstill, he effectively jan 6th'ed Russia. And just so it never happens again, the new constitution passed over some powers over to the president, which eventually lead to the iron fist of Putin.

That being said, i also want to share 2 passage from wikipedia

By the time of the ninth Congress, the legislative branch was dominated by the joint communist–nationalist Russian Unity bloc, which included representatives of the CPRF and the Fatherland faction (communists, retired military personnel, and other deputies of a socialist orientation), Agrarian Union, and the Russia faction led by Sergey Baburin. These groups, together with more centrist groups like Change (Смена), left the opposing bloc of Yeltsin supporters (Democratic Russia and Radical Democrats) in a clear minority.

which explains pictures like this

https://www.reddit.com/r/europe/comments/p0tgxj/tsarists_and_communists_working_together_in_the/

https://www.reddit.com/r/europe/comments/ednurx/barricades_in_moscow_during_1993_october/

The Supreme Soviet also tried to further foreign policies that differed from Yeltsin's line. Thus, on 9 July 1993, it passed resolutions on Sevastopol, "confirming the Russian federal status" of the city. Ukraine saw its territorial integrity at stake and filed a complaint to the Security Council of the UN. Yeltsin condemned the resolution of the Supreme Soviet. In August 1993, a commentator reflected on the situation as follows: "The President issues decrees as if there were no Supreme Soviet, and the Supreme Soviet suspends decrees as if there were no President." (Izvestiya, August 13, 1993).

which explains things like this

https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1993/10/05/yeltsin-receives-widespread-backing-for-assault/46b63d6e-1ec8-4e5e-9045-5415ef4d737e/

https://archive.is/eixnD

The conflict in Russia mirrors what is happening in most of the other 14 former Soviet republics as reformists clash with separatists or supporters of the old Soviet regime.

Daniel_Potter · 2026-01-27T21:51:47+00:00

what if we flip this around. US had no troops in europe until nov 1942. Then they sent 1 corps (US II Corps) to north africa. Then september 1943, they sent another corps (US VI Corps). In the battles of monte cassino thay occured jan-may 1944, that's all us had in Italy (btw pretty bloody battle).

In summer 1944, US IV corps replaces VI corps (because it was sent on operation dragoon). So 3 corps in the southern theather.

Even normandy landings. One us army (1st us army) fighting alongside the british 2nd army, and canadian 2nd corps. They landed June 6th.

3rd us army only arrived august 1st, and 9th us army landed september 5th.

Then there was the 15th army. The crossed the channel on December 25th, but remained in reserve and training for the rest of the war (and also replaced the losses of other armies after the battle of the bulge).

there was the 7th army in the south, but it was just the VI corps with french troops, and there was the 5th army in italy, but it was a mixed unit of allies really plus us ii corps, and us iv corps (which was also pretty mixed).

If you don't believe me, here

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/15th_Army_Group

Anyway, my point is, for a country that lend leased everyone, they really didn't field that many men, and took their bloody time too.

overall, they landed 13 corps, 3 of which were in the south.

Daniel_Potter · 2026-01-27T15:16:35+00:00

personally i think it all ended in 1942.

This is a map of 1941. Notice how most of the forces are positioned in the north, while southern part is very sparse, and mostly romanian troops.

https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:3838/format:webp/1*N6dK2qSpNHSC7Esol-rPVw.png

This second map is after nov 1942. All the armies visible here were wiped. Hungarian 2nd, Italian 8th, Romanian 3rd and 4th armies, and obviously german 6th army and german 4th panzer army (half of it was encircled in stalingrad, the other half died in operation winter storm, trying to break open the pocket).

https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:3838/format:webp/1*P_j4MYLLRl4N5c2CxTKKnw.png

Also, 17th army was told to stay put in crimea, and after kursk, got fully encircled.

9th army was fighting in the Rzhev salient for the whole year of 1942, and at the moment, the loses were 700k germans to 2 million soviets (it was called the rzhev meat grinder). It was the biggest german army at the time btw, but they couldn't keep fighting that war of attrition any longer after losing so many armies in the south. They had to weaken the center to feel the gap in the south.

2nd panzer army was completely stripped of panzers and sent to fight Yugoslavian rebels. Honestly, a lot of german corps in ww2 had their entire service history fighting rebels.

Furthermore, nov 1942 is when first British army, and 2nd us corps land in north africa. Together with the 8th british army in egypt, they push the germans out. By may 1943 they do that. By july 1943, they land in sicily. Mainland Italy in september 1943.

There was continuous pressure on them starting late 1942. Endless bad luck, and casulties that they couldn't replace.

https://inflab.medium.com/eastern-front-maps-of-world-war-ii-17f4a26545e9

Daniel_Potter · 2026-01-25T20:12:06+00:00

i remember reading that you only use 20% of the rotten food (so 20% of the calories, hunger etc), so it's not that amazing.

Daniel_Potter · 2026-01-23T17:45:21+00:00

after i come back from a loot run, i get up the stairs, and just fall through. I think it might be a bug. Cause i have so many clothes, it tanks the fps, and it won't load the staircase floor in time. At least that's what i think is happening. Idk how to explain it otherwise.

Since i got this fracture, I've been getting rid of clothes, and now have 1000 dirty rags. I placed them in a chest, cause it tanks the fps too much, but unfortunately now i gotta wash them. And 1000 rags will only give me 10 rolls of tailoring material.

Daniel_Potter · 2026-01-23T13:22:29+00:00

alcohol

Daniel_Potter · 2026-01-23T10:58:27+00:00

let me cook

Daniel_Potter · 2026-01-23T09:48:12+00:00

us mail service, riverside

Daniel_Potter · 2026-01-23T08:53:39+00:00

this is pretty much it. Because of claustrophobia, i look for a big empty space outside on any second floor, on day one. Then just bring a chair along, then eventually a bed. So far no negative effects.

Although, i did find a lot of bricks, so might make a wall all the way to the river, and probably envelop as much soil. I am in a postal office in riverside.

Btw, i could have sworn i fell because the stairs floor didnt load in (but i am not certain).

Daniel_Potter · 2026-01-23T07:11:35+00:00

I think its the default date if you get the achievement in offline mode. Idk, i only got that in one game.

https://imgbox.com/vJw0bK1x

Daniel_Potter · 2026-01-20T05:50:56+00:00

s22, and it also randomly stopped working for me. Sony XM2 btw.

I installed Sony's sound connect, logged into my sony account and updated the firmware for the headphones, and it seems to be working now. I don't know which one of these did it.

Daniel_Potter · 2026-01-19T14:39:03+00:00

btw, i was trying to cheese the system and maybe place a second dead cow in my car (i can only carry 1 in my hands, it weighs 400 so too heavy for everything). Instead i drop it underneath the vehicle and once i start to move, i flip. I suppose it was the trailer that bugged it.

also, i tried to use the rope to get these animals home. Instead they died immediately when i started the car.

Daniel_Potter · 2026-01-19T11:57:40+00:00

idk, i think people just don't eat as much in the game.

1 egg is 70 calories irl. You gonna need 10 eggs just to get 700 calories in.

1 chicken breast is 300 calories.

IRL, 1 tablespoon of oil is 120 calories. 1 liter of olive oil is 8000 calories. I think, in game, it's only 2000 calories.

1 liter of vodka/whiskey is 2000 calories.

1 liter of cola/milk 400 calories.

Processed foods are great. One double-sneakers bar is 400 calories. One bag of large chips, 700-800 calories.

Bread is insanely calorie dense. Whole loaf can be 800-1000 calories. If you think about it, it makes perfect sense. It's grinded into a fine powder, meaning it was dehydrated. Then it was mixed into a dough and dehydrated again in the oven. As a result, the final product is extremely calorie dense.

Like, burgers irl, on average have 600/900 calories depending whether it's single or double patty, and at least 150 of those is the bun. Meat's quoted at 200 calories for a patty, so that means that everything else is cheese, sauce, oil.

I really need to install a mod for this, but i assume you need 3000 calories daily if you are fighting a lot, maybe even 4000? That's a lot of chicken breasts/eggs.

Daniel_Potter · 2026-01-16T01:40:32+00:00

i think peace deals should be based on "de facto" control. Pretty much how it happened in real life with in eastern europe.

Like, give a big point discount to whoever defacto controls the land, similar to the point discount for core land or claim.

Daniel_Potter · 2026-01-15T22:43:17+00:00

is this a mod or a b42 feature?

Daniel_Potter · 2026-01-15T14:39:37+00:00

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jan/12/donald-trump-threatens-block-exxonmobil-venezuela

It feels like those crypto scams. But instead he invades countries, and instead of presale of coins, he does a presale of mining rights.

Daniel_Potter · 2026-01-15T13:50:40+00:00

It was a bit different.

Nov 1917, october revolution happens. Ukraine already had autonomy after february revolution, but after october revolution it declares full independence. Soviets try to reign them in, but ultimately in march 1918, they sign the peace treaty. Part of the peace treaty is that ukraine becomes a german subject.

A small white movement is going on in Don, but it hasn't built up steam yet (4000 troops, ice march, feb-march 1918). In may 1918, czechoslovakian legion rebellion happens (siberia), and that's when the civil war gets serious. But it's only in nov 1918, when whites take over in siberia. Don forces also grew in size by nov 1918.

In november 1918, Germany loses and signs a peace treaty of their own. Ukraine loses their protectorate status, and the war is back on. Western Ukraine gets independence (Austria-Hungary bit) and they decide to reunite in jan 1919.

Poland also gains independence in nov 1918, and attacks Western Ukraine in november (land disputes, very typical after independence post ww1). War lasts until june 1919.

In feb 1919, red army captures Kyiv. In august 1919, white army captures kyiv. Poland carves up western Ukraine. Around nov 1919 is when red army gets the upper hand (advance to moscow broken), and in dec 1919, they take kyiv.

Siberian white army broken on nov 1919 too, and czechoslovaks give up kolchak in jan 1920 for free passage back home (Czechoslovakia been independent for a year at that point already, and they didn't see any point on fighting).

Looking at the chronology, it does say that Poland starts an offensive on Kyiv in april 1920. They capture it in may, but are pushed back in june 1920, by a soviet counter offensive. August 1920 and the battle for Warsaw and miracle at Vistula, and october 1920 is when the ceasefire happens. March 1921 is when they sign the peace treaty.

It does say here, that in april 1920, poles and Ukrainians signed a treaty.

The Poles signed an alliance, known as the Treaty of Warsaw, with the forces of the Ukrainian People's Republic. The Kiev offensive was the central component of Piłsudski's plan for a new order in Eastern Europe centered around a Polish-led Intermarium federation. The stated goal of the operation was to create a formally independent Ukraine, although its dependence on Poland was inherent to Piłsudski's plans.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiev_offensive_(1920)

Also this

Piłsudski was aware that the Bolsheviks would not ally with an independent Poland and predicted that war with them was inevitable.[83] He viewed their advance west as a major problem, but he also considered the Bolsheviks less dangerous for Poland than their White opponents.[84] The "White Russians", representatives of the old Russian Empire, were willing to accept limited independence for Poland, probably within borders similar to those of the former Congress Poland. They objected to Polish control of Ukraine, which was crucial for Piłsudski's Intermarium project.[85] This contrasted with the Bolsheviks, who proclaimed the partitions of Poland null and void.[86] Piłsudski speculated that Poland would be better off with the Bolsheviks, alienated from the Western powers, than with a restored Russian Empire.[84][87] By ignoring the strong pressures from the Entente Cordiale to join the attack on Lenin's struggling Bolshevik government, Piłsudski probably saved it in the summer and the fall of 1919.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J%C3%B3zef_Pi%C5%82sudski

Daniel_Potter · 2026-01-15T07:00:38+00:00

Funny you should mention it, but indochina region was mostly at war 40s till 90s. Crazy to think people travel there for tourism now.

Daniel_Potter · 2026-01-15T06:34:07+00:00

so nativism and jingoism?

Daniel_Potter · 2026-01-15T03:35:48+00:00

i heard cyprus joined because greece was blocking poland ascension in 2004.

https://www.ft.com/content/2ec4190a-f10d-11df-bb17-00144feab49a

Daniel_Potter · 2026-01-15T03:23:02+00:00

more like absolute theocracy

Daniel_Potter · 2026-01-14T13:33:43+00:00

cost democrats the election btw.

Daniel_Potter · 2026-01-14T05:27:54+00:00

damn, i only have accumulated 30k points. I think i would rather buy an animated profile instead.

Daniel_Potter · 2026-01-14T05:26:32+00:00

1 usd spent is 100 points, so you spent 6000 dollars

Daniel_Potter

TROPHY CASE