AN OLD ASIA HAND FOR VIET NAM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP75-00001R000300430037-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: November 11, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 8, 1999
• Sequence Number: 37
• Publication Date: September 7, 1965
• Content Type: NSPR

Sanitized - Approved For Release : CIA-
FOIAb3b '
From Ed;; k/Othor
page Page
i ALEXANDRIA, 1.A.
TOWN TALXC
24,093
Sep 7 1965
'CPYRGHT
A Sown ah News Analysis
n Old Asia, 14 nd a, fay Viet Nam
The new Lodge team in Viet
cam, figures to benefit consider- ' In his remarkably frank "Mis-' need," wrote Gen. Lansdale, is
merican." H i s. nickname, on Lansdale, one of the United . Viet Cong actually encounters
ol.' Hillandale 'in "The Ugly writes Mr. Mcklin, "i eie down Eighth Route Army. (When the
ably by the return of a real sion in Torment," John- M. "To make the number one prior-
etter man. He is Maj. Gen. Mecklin, the veteran correspond- ity for the military to protect
dward G. Lansdale, Ret., who . ent who was U.S. public affairs and help the people." He point-
.. officer in Viet Nam before and
s to join the new. ambassador'. during Diem's downfall, says ed out that the communist Viet
shortly as head of a group of a that Washington for "fuzzy rea? Cong practice military action
oxen or more civilians who will:: sons" votoed suggestions by with severe penalties for misbe-
ttempt to bring a new approach Ambassador Fredderick E. Nol- havior as part of their military
o the war. ing Jr. and others that Lansdale' ; oath of honor, adopted from the
Gen. Lansdale is supposed to be returned to Viet Nam. "High "Three Rules and Eight Re-
e the prototype of the colorful officials in Defense and-701A " marks" of Mao ' Tse-tung's
"Over,. Hill and Lansdale," Sates' ablest experts on counter- resistance, however, at is capable'-;
ends support to the general be. guerrilla operations, because of . of the greatest (Ii'uelty against. .
ief. his tendency to break bureau- citizens as well as its military'
A s a colonel, Gen. Lansdale cratic crockery to get things foes.)
lade his reputation as an old'. done." Popularizing the war among
sia hand as adviser-and close As articulate as he is reticent, the Vietnamese people would
riend-to Ramon Magsaysay, Gen. Lansdale spelled out some take much patience, much re-?'
he Philippine. national leader of his ideas for Viet Nam in a , orientation of the Viet Nam mill. 1
ho rallied his. people against- recent issue of Foreign Affairs. tary-who have fired on civilians
he communist Huks as defense He proposed-greatly to sim- without cause-and much re-
ecretary and went on to the plify-a long and patient process thinking by -American military
residency. The American col- ' of "American help 'in banding and civilian advisers. It could go
nel was officially a member of the leaders, the` military, the a long way, however, toward re-
he Joint U. S. Military Advisory civil servants and the people of:,', marred by tales of burned vil-,
roup in the Philippines. Viet Nam into 'a united force Aages and indifference to the.
Gen. Lansdale went on to be- for freedom." .. fate of the people who live in
ome an adviser-and a much Gen. Lansdale asserts that : them.
rized one--to President Ngo what .the South Viet Namese'" And the reward could be great
Dinh Diem in 1054-65, in the'., need is a "great cause" such as, .' As Gen. Lansdale put it 10 $
haky early days. of the :fated..'. the spirit of the British Magna, months ago, a "revolutionary ap-
iem regime. Subsequently he Carta, the Franch "Liberte, Ega :. peal" might eventually "spread
eturned to spend unhappy days liter Fraternite," and .our own, . to the people of North Viet Nam,
it a Pentagon desk as deputy 'Declaration of Independence.'- wounding communism at its
pecial. assistant on counter-in 'And he suggests that Americans'. most,. vital point-communism's'
urgency to Secretary . of De- help the people find that cause control of the masses"
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Sanitized -.Approved For Release : CIA-RDP75-000018000300430037-8