Apologies for picking on your posts, they sum up quite a few points in the clearest way.
At this point the Chinese aren't involved in another land war yet, and to threaten/bribe them, prior to Carter's visit or pre Sino-Soviet split isn't possibly the best option in so far as there's not actually a lot you can threaten them with, as the US government, the only thing you have to threaten them with that isn't likely to bring the Soviets on board is to recognise the Republic Of China. Given that at this point they Chinese are more ideologically driven, (OTL until the late 70's although an external threat could delay this), you're virtually inviting them into the war.
As much as I mention in my rambling mess that this will cause major changes in the US economy, there's a strong possibility it could do the same to the Soviets and Chinese too. You need raw materials to make weapons. Even if both the Soviets and Chinese are self sufficient in said raw materials, the same raw materials are a source of hard currency, the lack of which is potentially more damaging to the Sino-Soviets than the US who have more income streams.
This could lead to the courting of the Arab nations: oil could end up as a key export to keep the currency coming in to both nations.
Just a shame I couldn't explain the responses as efficiently you were able to make your points.
Yes, hardline Maoists.
Already in a land war, in this scenario.
One we can't win because supposed neutrals are the supply base.
At this point the Chinese aren't involved in another land war yet, and to threaten/bribe them, prior to Carter's visit or pre Sino-Soviet split isn't possibly the best option in so far as there's not actually a lot you can threaten them with, as the US government, the only thing you have to threaten them with that isn't likely to bring the Soviets on board is to recognise the Republic Of China. Given that at this point they Chinese are more ideologically driven, (OTL until the late 70's although an external threat could delay this), you're virtually inviting them into the war.
My personal view is that a huge military build up would have quite an effect on the ways and means, and the time taken, but I really don't believe that Vietnam could be reunited under a US backed government purely as a result of US military action.The idea that vast increases in anything and everything would have no real impact seems Deterministic.
An earlier and/or longer lasting mining of the Harbor should have a positive effect.
I don't think you could close the harbours, you can change the methods of unloading, but that's about all. Other than that though, if the Sino-Soviet split occurs, it would end Soviet supplies without a doubt, instead it opens the NVA and VC up to Chinese supplies. NVA get the Type 56 instead of the AK47.You buy enough time, and you get beyond the China Soviet Split, could mean the end of the soviet supplies coming out of China.
And the harbors are all close by mines...
And by then the Soviet Union itself is start to get near it's expiration date.
As much as I mention in my rambling mess that this will cause major changes in the US economy, there's a strong possibility it could do the same to the Soviets and Chinese too. You need raw materials to make weapons. Even if both the Soviets and Chinese are self sufficient in said raw materials, the same raw materials are a source of hard currency, the lack of which is potentially more damaging to the Sino-Soviets than the US who have more income streams.
This could lead to the courting of the Arab nations: oil could end up as a key export to keep the currency coming in to both nations.
Just a shame I couldn't explain the responses as efficiently you were able to make your points.