Paradoxes of power: Why do strong states (countries) sometimes lose to weaker ones?

Posted: January 6th, 2014

Use Vietnam War, Korean War, Iraq War to prove why large states sometimes lose to small states. Also, define winning and losing in each case.
1. Vietnam – Vietcong were able to use guerilla warfare to ward off the superior US military. Used psychological tactics (Tet Offensive) to cause the US public to slowly withdraw support for the war. US lost because it spent 10 years in war without ultimately gaining much. South Vietnam lost shortly after US pulled out. North Vietnam not only survived but was able to unify the country under its communist regime.
2. Korea -US lost because it failed to eliminate the North Korean government. North Korea won, with support from China, by being able to stand up to a superpower and forcing the US to withdraw. North Korea communist government remained in power and gained legitimacy from being able to repel the US.
3. Iraq- Neither won. Although, the US will pull troops out of Iraq in August 2010, the US was able to accomplish its initial goal of overthrowing Saddam Hussein’s government. The current insurgency is a collection of various militant groups that is not organized into a central power. A US backed government is in control of the country.