A LEGEND RETURNS TO SAIGON

Document Type: 
Collection: 
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
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
August 21, 1965
Content Type: 
NSPR
File: 
AttachmentSize
PDF icon CIA-RDP75-00001R000300430059-4.pdf169.56 KB
Body: 
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