The Tet Offensive shifts public opinion against the war from "summary" of A Bright and Shining Lie by Neil Sheehan
The Tet Offensive was a turning point in the Vietnam War, a moment when the American public began to question the wisdom of continuing the fight. The sheer scale of the offensive, with attacks on more than 100 cities and towns throughout South Vietnam, shocked the American people. The images of fierce battles in places like Hue and Saigon, broadcast on television for all to see, brought the reality of the war home in a way that previous battles had not. The Tet Offensive shattered the illusion that the United States was winning the war. Despite the assurances of military and political leaders that victory was just around the corner, the offensive showed that the enemy still had the ability to strike with devastating effect. The fact that the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong were able to launch such a coordinated and widespread offensive caught many Americans by surprise. It called into question the credibility of the official statements coming out of Washington and Saigon. The Tet Offensive...
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