"VIETNAMIZATION...HAS BEEN COMPLETED"

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-248-4-15-6
• Release Decision: RIPLIM
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: August 6, 2010
• Sequence Number: 15
• Publication Date: January 8, 1973
• Content Type: CABLE

No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/08/06: LOC-HAK-248-4-15-6
UNCLASSI FEED In 0056
65
WI NST ON LORD FOR DR.- KI SSI NGER
"VIETNAMIZATION. . HAS BEEN COMPLETED"
Fft DEFENSE SECRETARY. MELVIN R. LAIRD' S "FINAL. REPORT TO THE
CONGRESS," DELIVERED TO THE HOUSE `ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE
JAN: , 8.
VIET,R.AMIZ'ATION:- ' THE FIRST CRUCIAL STEP IN IMPLEMENTING THE
NIXONDOCTRINE TODAY IS VIRTUALLY COMPLETED. AS A COHSE-
ON-FILE NSC RELEASE
INSTRUCTIONS APPLY
ENCE...OF=-.THE SUCCESS OF THE. MILITARY ASPECTS OF VIETNAMIZATION
THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE PEOPLE TODAY, IN MY VIEW, ARE FULLY
CAPABLE ?OF PROVIDING FOR THEIR` OWN IN-COUNTRY SECURITRY
AGAINST; THE NORTH: VIETNAMESE. VIETNAMIZATION HAS". SIONIFICANTLY
ENHANCED THE PROSPECTS FOR SUCCESSFUL NEGCT I ATIO N, BUT, .SHOULD.
IEG'OrIATIONS FAIL, VIETNAMIZATION MAKES POSSIBLE THE COMPLETE
TERMINATION OF AMERICAN-INVOLVEMENT IN THE WAR*. CONTINGENT.
ALWAYS ON THE, SAFE RETURN OF AMERICAN PRISONERS-OF-WAR AND AN
ACCOUNTING FOR THOSE. NISSING- IN- ACTION THROUGHOUT INDOCHINA...
FROM A MILITARY., STANDPOINT,: THE. VIETHAMIZATION PROGRAM HAS BEEN
C IPLETED- SOME AMERICAN MILITARY PERSONNEL REMAIN IN VIETNAM,
IN` KEEPING -WITH: THE COMMANDER- IN-CHIEF' S PLEDGE THAT ALL OUR
FORCES WILL . NOT BE WITHDRAWN UNTIL ALL PRISONERS HAVE B N
RELEASED AN OUR MISSING-
I14-ACTION ACCOUNTED FOR*,
as MR. .CHAIRMAN, I WANT THIS COMMITTEE TO UNDERSTAND THAT
THE CONTINUING UNITED STATES MILITARY PRESENCE IN SOUTH VIETNAM
IS::.NOT :BEING MAINTAINED BECAUSE OF .A LACK FO. CAPABILITY ON THE
PART' OF THE SOUT H. VIETNAMESE.
VIETNAMIZATION HAS. CHANGED T1 . CIRCUMSTANCES WE. FO JND FOUR:
YEARS AG D. IT HAS ENABLED. US 'T O BR I NG OUR MILITARY FOR CUES OUT
OF VIET:NA.M, :WHILE LEAVING 'THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE WITH THE CAP-
ABILITY, FOR THEIR .Ili-COUNTRY SECURITY, THIS IS THE
- MOST ANY, ALLY
COULD 'REASONABLY EXPECT., FOR NO NATION CAN PROVIDE TO ANOTHER
THE V ILL AND DETERMINATION TO SURVIVE.
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/08/06: LOC-HAK-248-4-15-6