OUR VIETNAM by A. J. Langguth

Author:A. J. Langguth
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Politics
Publisher: SIMON & SCHUSTER
Published: 2001-07-15T00:00:00+00:00

Clifford’s own mission was limited to gauging the value of U.S. intelligence operations, and he found them badly coordinated. Although Saigon’s politics remained volatile and little progress was being made in winning over the countryside, Lodge seemed entirely confident. He had held a reunion lately with Tri Quang, his former houseguest, who had proved surprisingly docile. The monk had asked Tran Quang Thuan once again to translate, and when Thuan stopped by the pagoda he discovered that Tri Quang had borrowed a Mercedes convertible for the ride to Lodge’s residence. Thuan suggested that a less flashy car might be more appropriate, but from behind the wheel Tri Quang shook his head and said, Let’s go. When the ambassador came out to the curb to welcome them, Thuan thought he looked amused.

As they talked, Lodge asked for Tri Quang’s reaction to the bombing of North Vietnam, and the monk clearly had been weighing the question. Do it over a shorter period of time, he said, and make the North beg. Don’t prolong it.

He cited the reaction of Germany during the last days of World War II. Hitler by that time was unpopular with young Germans, and yet they still defended their country. If you continue to prolong the bombing, the people will rally and unite. So, Tri Quang repeated, get it finished quickly. To what degree was he telling Lodge what the Americans wanted to hear? The ambassador could not be sure, but for the moment the monk was not in the streets.

Westmoreland was equally encouraging. He claimed that enemy casualties had now risen to the point that the Communists would not be able to replace them.

Clifford flew to the huge new U.S. Army headquarters at Bien Hoa, where planning was underway for helicopters to deliver a full Thanksgiving dinner with cranberries and yams to every GI in South Vietnam, no matter how remote or hostile the territory around his base. He returned to Washington enthusiastic about the skill and energy of the young soldiers and CIA agents he had met.

But before he could report to Johnson, a Los Angeles Times article described Thieu and Ky as immature and selfish and suggested that the judgment had come from Clifford and Kissinger. Moyers called Clifford to warn that Johnson was furious. He suggested that, rather than come to the White House, Clifford explain himself in writing. A letter did not help. When they finally met about a week later at Johnson’s ranch, the president berated Clifford, who said again that the story was untrue and that he deeply resented Johnson’s questioning of his word. The unexpected counterattack shut Johnson up.

Kissinger did not have the privilege of confronting the president in person. He wrote to Clifford, admitting to a meeting with journalists but insisting that he had said almost nothing and certainly not what he was quoted as saying.

“I am depressed and shaken,” Kissinger concluded, “that my offer to be helpful to the administration and to Ambassador Lodge has ended so ignominiously. I

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