OUR MISTAKES IN S.VIETNAM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP75-00001R000200410012-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: November 11, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 9, 1999
• Sequence Number: 12
• Publication Date: September 11, 1964
• Content Type: NSPR

NORTHER] (
CPYRGHT
Mistakes
ii .k.
In. $ Vietnam
'1j;; 11 S faros n mainr enn. 1 second iii t h13 have Con-'-'a1 _' n c .~_ ia..=
-By ROBERT S. ALLEN -
~_ AND PAUL SCOTT 1r Allen
n
irontation in South Viet Nam with.
the wrong enemy, ait'?the wrong'
time, and in the wrong place.
To their, sudden shock,' Presi-
clout Johnson and his chief pol=
`,icy makers have found them-
selves maneuvered into the dan-
`4 Aerous position of either, having
to involSe the U.S. In another
Korean-type war or agree to a
political Dicnbienphu.
Neither alternadive is Very ale
v1iaxu L MM puucy makers mat that the price for a settlement
the Chinese Communists, stayed will. come high - neutralization
out of this world headline .bat-' .of Soutil Viet Nam at best,. or,.
File to pinpoint the amfrontalion "a Communist takeover at tthe.
'
as one between the U.S.
.and worst. , '
North Viet Liam. Unlike the 1862 , Cuban crisis
By responding with a 'lint- , -tvlx re there was It
direct con-
itcci" attack on W orth Victtta ,frontatLou between the U.S. and
,~nteso bases, Preslllelit Joljnson ltussla,.the main 'enemy in that
J spoLlghtcd the Couuutntist pup- conflict President Johnson is
pet regime in I-lanili as the . U. heading to gle ' brink with North
S. enemy in Soutti Viet .Nan, Viet Nam, a second-rate Cons-.
and not the 'hinese C'oattmu- vnunist power that is not the
'election less than two months gists. real enemy in the Far Fut.
away. Significantly,. the U. re-.I Ambassador Maxwell ' Taylor's
711at's the inside word loalc- sponse to the Peking ;ploy now "uncertain ?'trumpot , is dcW>g
big out of the sharp policy (Ic-leaves, the Chinese pinimunist to the President's growing di-
bale now going on- at the high- ' leaders a free hand to hake lemma in South Viet Nam
,
est level of government on what `their big play in South Viet Il?ith his "rings of steel" min-
action, if any, the U.S. can take Nan,, Lary strategy falling apart ? at
to save the disintegrating situa- Tlic Chinese Reds cvt , turn, I the scams, Tai for is sounding,
lion in South Viet Naiu.' the 'hear on by, having their' a boat call for l'ho establish_
The consensus of opinion of Nortit Vietnamese puppets: step
these policy-makers is' that the up the war in South -Viet Narn
President's choice has been oar- i'ilhout fear that the U.S. will
ir,wed to these ominous allcrua- .t strike back at China,
tives by a combination of lnis_ On the U.S. situ., President
takes in Saigon and Washing- Johnson is left, with ;Ihr ?Choice
too. of eilhcu mcctin0C' t:hc,' new,
The' first 'involves the ai;;,:u?. threat with Marines and eStend
ent ? political trap that Peking lug the war into North Viet
lured, President Johnson into the Nam or tryitlg? to negotiate 'a
p
'their unprovoked attack against wealatess, end of the month. 'f from' the 'stew` South Viet : Nani
_.._...._,.n__ ,. ,. A--_ -____ . 10. 1h 1.#w,. ...13 ~.'.e.;. :; i?_~l-~ : _ _ _ _!' nvtianw.,NJ..? '. ,.
y
Gulf of T nilcin when North Vi=, political settlement with the time, the hour. of truth .for the, ing forces behind the move to
beb,r the ' eliminate "?rltilitary ofticera"
etn.irticse PT boats launclx'd Hanoi regMi o trout ttlon oft ' president could com
Approved' For. Release 1,999/09/07 , CJs-RDP75=0Q001 R00:0,2004 .001;2-8
Representative /'Clement Za
rnlttee, reports that former.
1S.. Alinister-counselor, in Sal
r William. C. Truelicavt is ; now tl
east Asian Affairs.
According to intelligence
mittee, Trueheart? was the lead
.President. Dien,..
He also had as major role 'i
the sudden recall of Jdltn Rich
in Saigon, who tried. to.. sav
Tiucheart? who has, close coif
in r
uling-, in
ntent of a mwiia ii - govel?it- !
mcni_ _to give the ,U.S, a face-c Slaof the prime movers in the
5Ito 1,OMI-inlan4 ' l..
f' ' in his new position; he is 'in
that strife-tor, i country after the
November election, charge o formulating. all policy
to be 'against Ta.Nlor.. lag that utcy are. carried out
With the. new tor.. tu>st 'Viet both : in Washington and Saigon,
.I -fie has Wit one. of the drly%
Con- offensive cxpeched at an