A LEGEND RETURNS TO SAIGON

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP75-00001R000300430059-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: November 11, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 8, 1999
• Sequence Number: 59
• Publication Date: August 21, 1965
• Content Type: NSPR

unitized -~A roved For Release,
Franc Eli. OIhor
Pa0o Page
Z < 13,358
CPYRGHT
A `Legend Reiurns To Saigon
It now appears that, at the same time
he was announcing a .policy. to. send
X50,000 more troops to. Vietnam---fewer
than recommended by his military ad.
visers. in Vietnam and Washington-
President Johnson was also deciding to
send political reinforcements to . Viet+
nam-=-also; apparently, to the dis-
pleasure of his military counselors.
The big political gun going, to Saigon
"s one. General Edward E. Lansdale, Air
.Force retired, who had: a previous role
in Vietnam, a decade 'ago, as an opera-
!. tive of our Central Int jk11 ence Agency.
IIn, that capacity' ris??came. famous
(Wand fabulous for his accomplishments
behind the scene in Vietnam. These ac-
complishments apparently Include
-propping up shaky .governments, de
vising techniques for combatting guer.
'rillas by undercutting their popular
support out In the villages, and con-
centrating on "pacification" programs
rather than on the burning of villages.
In this role, General Lansdale purport-
edly became the. model for the one
"good American" in the novel about
Vietnam called "The Ugly American."
In this role, General 'Lansdale' purport.
edly first, helped the late President
Diem stabilize his country politically,
and then grow disillusioned with the
same ? Vietnamese statesman as he turn+
'ed stabilization into repression.
j! Now General 'Lansdale Is on;his. way
back to;.aigon ins s .;is