--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We were succeeding. When you looked at…" description: "\"We were succeeding. When you looked at specifics, this became a war of attrition. We were winning.\" — William Westmoreland" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/866/william-westmoreland-18684_attrition_we-were-succeeding-when-you-looked-at-sp_2264931.jpg" --- # We were succeeding. When you looked at specifics, this… ![“We were succeeding. When you looked at specifics, this became a war of attrition. We were winning.” quote by William Westmoreland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/866/william-westmoreland-18684_attrition_we-were-succeeding-when-you-looked-at-sp_2264931.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/866/william-westmoreland-18684_attrition_we-were-succeeding-when-you-looked-at-sp_2264931.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/866/william-westmoreland-18684_attrition_we-were-succeeding-when-you-looked-at-sp_2264931.jpg) > “We were succeeding. When you looked at specifics, this became a war of attrition. We were winning.” [William Westmoreland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-westmoreland/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Initial successes turned into a prolonged, draining conflict as details revealed hidden challenges. **In simple terms:** Winning early can mask deeper problems. Key Takeaway Stay vigilant about underlying complexities. Themes military strategy war of attrition misleading metrics leadership Mood cautious analytical Type strategic historical When to use this quote - military planning - risk management - policy review - historical analysis Key Concepts attrition warfare strategic assessment operational fatigue Questions to Reflect On - What indicators reveal hidden costs in a campaign? - How can leaders avoid complacency after early wins? A Different Perspective Short‑term victories may hide long‑term costs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attrition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attrition/) [Attrition Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attrition-winning-5225311/) [Specifics War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/specifics-war-5225313/) [Succeed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/succeed/) [Succeeding Looked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/succeeding-looked-5225312/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [War Attrition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war-attrition-1387816/) [Winner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winner/) [Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning/) ## Related quotes > [This is in addition to our having experience in using guerrilla warfare and the war of attrition to fight tyrannical superpowers, as we, alongside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osama-bin-laden/this-is-in-addition-to-our-having-experience-in-using-guerrilla/) [Osama bin Laden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osama-bin-laden/) > [The men in Vietnam weren't allowed to fight the war with any kind of concern to win by the government. It was like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvester-stallone/the-men-in-vietnam-weren-t-allowed-to-fight-the-war-with-any-kind-of/) [Sylvester Stallone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvester-stallone/) > [Success is just a war of attrition. Sure, there's an element of talent you should probably possess, but if you stick around long enough,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dax-shepard/success-is-just-a-war-of-attrition-sure-there-s-an-element-of-talent/) [Dax Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dax-shepard/) > [It will be another disaster, after Irangate. Not only that, not only this longest Arab - Israeli confrontation: but also the most important and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasser-arafat/it-will-be-another-disaster-after-irangate-not-only-that-not-only/) [Yasser Arafat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasser-arafat/) > [The war of attrition against the Zionist enemy will never cease.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasser-arafat/the-war-of-attrition-against-the-zionist-enemy-will-never-cease/) [Yasser Arafat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasser-arafat/) > [It's a war of attrition. If you have patience and a modicum of faith in yourself your chances are not too bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-bowen/it-s-a-war-of-attrition-if-you-have-patience-and-a-modicum-of-faith/) [Julie Bowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-bowen/) > [Iran is waging a war of attrition against Israel and at the same time advancing its plans to obtain military nuclear weapons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoav-gallant/iran-is-waging-a-war-of-attrition-against-israel-and-at-the-same-time/) [Yoav Gallant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoav-gallant/) > [“This was a war of attrition...A mug's game! A mug's game as far as killing men was concerned, but not an uninteresting occupation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ford-madox-ford/this-was-a-war-of-attrition-a-mug-s-game-a-mug-s-game-as-far-as/) [Ford Madox Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ford-madox-ford/) > [Current condition of the BYU football program? I think it's in good shape. We've got some good young players. We've had two or three…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lavell-edwards/current-condition-of-the-byu-football-program-i-think-it-s-in-good/) [LaVell Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lavell-edwards/) > [Well, I think we need to have attrition by enforcement. We need to secure our borders. We need to enforce our laws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-west/well-i-think-we-need-to-have-attrition-by-enforcement-we-need-to/) [Allen West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-west/) > [Employing more women at all levels of a company, from new hires to senior leaders, creates a virtuous cycle. Companies become more attuned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-wojcicki/employing-more-women-at-all-levels-of-a-company-from-new-hires-to/) [Susan Wojcicki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-wojcicki/) > [The earlier you invest, the higher that attrition rate is because it's compounded. We have a more scientific method of investment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-mcclure/the-earlier-you-invest-the-higher-that-attrition-rate-is-because-it-s/) [Dave McClure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-mcclure/) > [I have yet to met a liberal who can withstand the attrition of prolonged discussion of the unessentials.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-sharpe/i-have-yet-to-met-a-liberal-who-can-withstand-the-attrition-of/) [Tom Sharpe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-sharpe/) > [I think the sheer attrition of American global domination will create circumstances in which the Chinese will be tempted to reach out for more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/i-think-the-sheer-attrition-of-american-global-domination-will-create/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [We fought a military war; our opponents fought a political one. We sought physical attrition; our opponents aimed for our psychological exhaustion. In the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-fought-a-military-war-our-opponents-fought-a-political-one-we/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by William Westmoreland > [President Johnson did not want the Vietnam War to broaden. He wanted the North Vietnamese to leave their brothers in the South alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-westmoreland/president-johnson-did-not-want-the-vietnam-war-to-broaden-he-wanted/) [William Westmoreland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-westmoreland/) > [Without censorship, things can get terribly confused in the public mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-westmoreland/without-censorship-things-can-get-terribly-confused-in-the-public-mind/) [William Westmoreland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-westmoreland/) > [Militarily, we succeeded in Vietnam. We won every engagement we were involved in out there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-westmoreland/militarily-we-succeeded-in-vietnam-we-won-every-engagement-we-were/) [William Westmoreland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-westmoreland/) > [“the militay dont start wars, politicians start wars”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-westmoreland/the-militay-dont-start-wars-politicians-start-wars/) [William Westmoreland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-westmoreland/) > [I have no apologies, no regrets. I gave my very best efforts… I've been hung in effigy. I've been spat upon. You just have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-westmoreland/i-have-no-apologies-no-regrets-i-gave-my-very-best-efforts-i-ve-been/) [William Westmoreland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-westmoreland/) > [I do not believe that the men who served in uniform in Vietnam have been given the credit they deserve. It was a difficult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-westmoreland/i-do-not-believe-that-the-men-who-served-in-uniform-in-vietnam-have/) [William Westmoreland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-westmoreland/) > [When I took command in Vietnam, I gave great emphasis to food and medical care - and to the mail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-westmoreland/when-i-took-command-in-vietnam-i-gave-great-emphasis-to-food-and/) [William Westmoreland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-westmoreland/) > [Television is an instrument which can paralyze this country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-westmoreland/television-is-an-instrument-which-can-paralyze-this-country/) [William Westmoreland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-westmoreland/) > [We had the best food any battlefield ever had.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-westmoreland/we-had-the-best-food-any-battlefield-ever-had/) [William Westmoreland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-westmoreland/) > [By the end of the summer of 1973 I thought it was virtually impossible for South Vietnam to survive. How in the heck could they?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-westmoreland/by-the-end-of-the-summer-of-1973-i-thought-it-was-virtually/) [William Westmoreland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-westmoreland/) > [When the soldiers came home from Vietnam, there were no parades, no celebrations. So they built the Vietnam Memorial for themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-westmoreland/when-the-soldiers-came-home-from-vietnam-there-were-no-parades-no/) [William Westmoreland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-westmoreland/) > [My wife was my greatest asset. I didn't marry her until after World War II, but she has complemented me in every job I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-westmoreland/my-wife-was-my-greatest-asset-i-didn-t-marry-her-until-after-world/) [William Westmoreland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-westmoreland/) > [The politicians in Washington just had no idea about the complexity of the situation in South Vietnam.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-westmoreland/the-politicians-in-washington-just-had-no-idea-about-the-complexity/) [William Westmoreland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-westmoreland/) > [This was a type of war that we'd had no experience with before. Some of our policies were kind of trial and error in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-westmoreland/this-was-a-type-of-war-that-we-d-had-no-experience-with-before-some/) [William Westmoreland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-westmoreland/) > [We'll blast them back into the stone ages!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-westmoreland/we-ll-blast-them-back-into-the-stone-ages/) [William Westmoreland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-westmoreland/) [Explore all 34 William Westmoreland quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-westmoreland/) ## More Attrition quotes > [We fought a military war; our opponents fought a political one. We sought physical attrition; our opponents aimed for our psychological exhaustion. In the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-fought-a-military-war-our-opponents-fought-a-political-one-we/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think the sheer attrition of American global domination will create circumstances in which the Chinese will be tempted to reach out for more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/i-think-the-sheer-attrition-of-american-global-domination-will-create/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [I have yet to met a liberal who can withstand the attrition of prolonged discussion of the unessentials.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-sharpe/i-have-yet-to-met-a-liberal-who-can-withstand-the-attrition-of/) [Tom Sharpe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-sharpe/) > [The earlier you invest, the higher that attrition rate is because it's compounded. We have a more scientific method of investment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-mcclure/the-earlier-you-invest-the-higher-that-attrition-rate-is-because-it-s/) [Dave McClure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-mcclure/) > [Employing more women at all levels of a company, from new hires to senior leaders, creates a virtuous cycle. Companies become more attuned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-wojcicki/employing-more-women-at-all-levels-of-a-company-from-new-hires-to/) [Susan Wojcicki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-wojcicki/) > [Well, I think we need to have attrition by enforcement. We need to secure our borders. We need to enforce our laws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-west/well-i-think-we-need-to-have-attrition-by-enforcement-we-need-to/) [Allen West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-west/) > [Current condition of the BYU football program? I think it's in good shape. We've got some good young players. We've had two or three…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lavell-edwards/current-condition-of-the-byu-football-program-i-think-it-s-in-good/) [LaVell Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lavell-edwards/) > [It's a war of attrition. If you have patience and a modicum of faith in yourself your chances are not too bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-bowen/it-s-a-war-of-attrition-if-you-have-patience-and-a-modicum-of-faith/) [Julie Bowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-bowen/) > [But I don't want massive layoffs of anyone - public or private. We are planning on shrinking government through attrition and reform, not through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-walker/but-i-don-t-want-massive-layoffs-of-anyone-public-or-private-we-are/) [Scott Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-walker/) > [Originally I wanted to be a diplomat, and by attrition I started giving up that idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/originally-i-wanted-to-be-a-diplomat-and-by-attrition-i-started/) [John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/) > [“You might say that S. has only himself to blame, that it is entirely his choice to fight this fight, to live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-dorst/you-might-say-that-s-has-only-himself-to-blame-that-it-is-entirely/) [Doug Dorst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-dorst/) > [Im a maximalist, so Im probably not very elegant. My art is not a coup de grce. Its a war of attrition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grayson-perry/im-a-maximalist-so-im-probably-not-very-elegant-my-art-is-not-a-coup/) [Grayson Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grayson-perry/) > [After The Bomb we developed a fairly good system for moving food around and have avoided the kind of massive famines that attract the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-r-ehrlich/after-the-bomb-we-developed-a-fairly-good-system-for-moving-food/) [Paul R. Ehrlich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-r-ehrlich/) > [It is not labor that kills, but the small attritions of daily routine that wear us down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-bedichek/it-is-not-labor-that-kills-but-the-small-attritions-of-daily-routine/) [Roy Bedichek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-bedichek/) > [The war of attrition against the Zionist enemy will never cease.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasser-arafat/the-war-of-attrition-against-the-zionist-enemy-will-never-cease/) [Yasser Arafat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasser-arafat/) [Browse all 45 Attrition quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attrition/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We were succeeding. When you looked at specifics, this became a war of attrition. 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