[forz877]

The US never committed to total war in Vietnam, likely because of consequences from the USSR and China.

Just because harsh agents were used doesn't mean the US couldn't have been harsher. They certainly could have been.

> It's also hard to justify "total war" when your sovereignty/existence is not at stake and you're effectively an interloper in other people's conflicts.

Yes, that's my point - so instead you end up in 20 year zombie wars that bleed over time and accomplish little.