Final answer:
The key strategy behind Operation Rolling Thunder was to use sustained bombing campaigns to weaken the North Vietnamese military and convince the South Vietnamese of US resolve. The goal was to inflict more losses on the Communists than they could sustain, forcing surrender. This strategy was implemented through a sustained bombing campaign and a combination of aerial bombardment and ground forces.
Step-by-step explanation:
The key strategy behind Operation Rolling Thunder was to use sustained bombing campaigns to weaken the North Vietnamese military and convince the South Vietnamese that the United States had the resolve and firepower to defeat the North with their assistance. The goal was to inflict more losses on the Communists than they could sustain, forcing surrender by the Viet Cong and the National Liberation Front.
The bombing, which lasted from 1965 to 1968, aimed to target military installations and supply lines to limit the North Vietnamese's ability to wage war. However, it was difficult to prevent civilian casualties in an environment where the line between civilians and the military was blurred. Most historians criticize the US military for its disregard for civilian casualties during Operation Rolling Thunder.
In addition to the bombing campaign, the US also relied on a strategy of combined arms, using both aerial bombardment and traditional ground forces, in the hopes of wearing down the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Army over time.