I read about the Tet offensive during the Vietnam War and apparently there were two factions in North Vietnam. The moderates wanted to revert back to guerilla warfare and use negotiations to end the war and eventually maybe unite the two countries. They were supported by the Soviets and the members included Giap (I think the only well known NVA commander to the West since he fought the French and the US, in that film We Were Soldiers).
The opposing and dominant militant faction wanted to do a large scale offensive that would create a popular uprising and win the war. They were supported by the Chinese and contrary to hindsight beliefs, the goal wasn't to make America lose in the homefront.
And I was wondering what the impact would be on the outcome of the Vietnam War if North Vietnam pursued the Moderates' approach?
Do you see Vietnam continue to remain divided a la Korea? North Vietnam or South Vietnam eventually collapsing? Or unity at some point?
Personally, I feel like a moderate approach would have been better for all parties in the Vietnam War. Sure, North Vietnam wouldn't decisively take Saigon in 1975, but millions of lives were lost throughout the region, the sociopolitical impact in the region and in the US probably did far more harm in the long run, creating huge harmful butterflies that might have prevented programs like the Great Society.