Error: Making Americans Madder

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363-04875A.pdf

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363-04875A

Title

Error: Making Americans Madder

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Article published in the New York Herald Tribune about US-South Vietnamese relations, page 8

Transcript

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- Page 1
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Error: Making Americans Madder
By Beverly Deepe
A Special Correspondent
BAIGON
The Viet Cong Communist
attack on the United States
B-57 Jet-fighter bombers a
week ago was a brilliant tac-
tical victory but a major stra
tegic miscalculation
For the mortar bombard-
ment of the Bien Hoa airfield,
only 18 miles from Saigon.
highlighted for omelals in
Washington the fact that
with the current polley, the
war is being lost.
Very forcefully, the Blen
Hoa attack points to the need
for a change in polley-and
soon. Major post-election pol-
ley changes were to be antiel-
pated anyway, but the Bien
Hoa attack, according to ob-
servers, at the least will
shorten the time in which
polley decisions can be post-
poned."
In Washington yesterday it
was made known that Am-
bassador Maxwell D. Taylor
would return for talks in a
week or so.
In Balgon yesterday, the
sound of explosions rattled
windows and shook up eitl-
zena.
The Vietnamese Air Force
was carrying out massive air
raids on Communist strong-
holds near the city.
Whether the noise that
startled Balgonese stemmed
from these raids, or from
army troops blowing up old
ammunition, was not known.
What was known was that
the Vietnamese Air Force In
eight hours dropped 120 tons
of bombs on a variety of
Communist targets, some no
further than 15 miles from
the capital, in retallation for
the Bien Hoa attack.
NO MEDALS
Although that attack on
Nov. 1 demolished or dam-
aged 20 American Jet-bomb-
ers, and inflicted the heaviest
American casualties tolls in
a single incident in the war
four killed and 72 wounded
-observers here predlet that
the Communist planners will
not receive any medals for
the feat.
Observers believe the at-
tack-a psychological shock
to Americans and Vietnamese
here-created the Impremion
"The Communists can take
over the country now-but
why don't they?" The effect
may well mean the Commu-
Asociated Press radiophote from Balgon
U. S. Ambassador Maxwell D. Taylor, right, with
Vietndmese Prime Minister Tran Van Huong,
left, and Major Gen. Duong Van Minh,
former chief of state, at National Day reception
in Saigon.
nists may lose some of their
mass support by promising
something that is still years
away in reality.
Hence, the Bien Hoa at-
tack is considered too early
-It was a small-scale Diem
-it was a small-scale Dien
Bien Phu without the im-
mediate prospect of final
military or political victory.
"Bien Hos has made the
Americans madder," ex-
plained one reliable source.
"The Americans have not yet
decided to change their
strategy but Bien Hos attack
makes that time come closer.
This is the significance of the
attack."
The attack came only days
before a new Balgon govern
ment had been announced-
a government which Ameri-
can policy officially backs.
"But the Americana are back-
Ing a weak and inept govern-
ment," according to one re-
able source, "I'm not say-
Ing Its weak and inept as
criticism. It's a fact."
The American policy is to
think that the American con
cepts of prosecuting the poll-
tical and economie war, of ad-
ministering the American
multimillion dollar aid pro-
gram, of Implementing the
American-backed pacification
program-that all of this
must be done through the
machinery of the Vietnamese
government. To choice fac-
Ing the Americans are to
continue wroking through this
weak-and corrupt-govern-
ment, to change that govern
principally by using the Viet-
ment or to work around 1,
namese army and its leader,
May, Gen. Nguyen Khanh, as
& substitute for the govern-
ment apparatus
The weeks to come should
reveal which choice Washing
ton makes in reality, although
American policymakers may
In effect officially continue to
support the newly-named
government.
GOVERNMENT
Offelally, the American
view is to work for an effec
tive Vietnamese government
and build all polley en
that. However, as long
the Communiet-oriented
Buddhist movement is cap-
able of attacking any Baigon
regime, there appears to be
ttle chance that the coun
try will ever have a strong
government. Thus, there may
well be in the offing a shift
in the American tolerant
attitude toward the Bud-
dhists, and the Vietnamese
government might decide to
crack down on known Com
munists within the move-
ment.
The Instability of the
three-day-old civilian EOV
ernment of Premier Tran
Van Huong was underlined
tional Counell refused to
yesterday when the High Na
throw Ita prestige behind the
cabinet, under fire from stu
dents and Buddhists for not
reflecting their political pow-
er. The Counell
limited it-
Premier "in order to solve
self to stating support of the
this unrest with him." It also
confirmed the resignation of
Its acting chairman, Dr.
Nguyen Xuan Chu, who feel
the same way about the cabl
net as the students and
Buddhists.
Premier Huong, facing the
gathering opposition, took
care to note yesterday that
his government would not
tolerate any demonstrations,
His regime support from the
man who counts, Gen. Khanh,
In a statement, he said "only
working in union can we de-
feat the danger of Commu
nist dictatorship."
In the most general terms,
American policymakers are
faced with two sets of
choices: to contain the con
nies within South Viet Nam
or to enlarge the war by 80-
Ing outside the borders; and
to admit defeat in the coun
terinsurgency war but to ad-
tempt to save Viet Nam by
making the conflict more of
a conventional war.
Fragmentary evidence sug
gests that the conflict will be
carried outside of Bouth Viet
Nam-and that the war wi
become more conventional-
ized. The arrival of a high-
ranging Filipino foreign min
istry offelal in Balgon laat
week has increased specula-
tion that Asian combat troops
Filipino, Thal, Formosan
and Bouth Korean-might be
the next step forward en-
larging the war. This may
or may not mean that Amer
lean combat troops will be
sen to Viet Nam, principally
for garrison duty to secure
provincial capitals and major
military installations-thus
eleasing Bouth Vietnamese
troops for offensive opera-
tions.
This decision would have
the effect of making Viet
nam a "tle Kores,
multi-national troops called
In to support the
muntat government
Nations command
the United Nations
Vietnamese observers alan
believe that Americ
changes may well
massive aertal bomb
of Communtat apply
outside South Viet Na
would probably be centered
In the southern-tongue
Laos, through which run the
key Infitration and pl
routes from North Viet
Observers in Viet Nam be
lieve this scheme to block in
nitration from southern La
may well be connected with
the current offensive of
right-wing troops
Pathet Lao forces on
Plain of Jars,

Date

1964, Nov. 8

Subject

Vietnam (Republic)--Politics and government; Taylor, Maxwell D. (Maxwell Davenport), 1901-1987; United States--Relations--Vietnam (Republic)

Location

Saigon, South Vietnam

Coordinates

10.8231; 106.6311

Container

B186

Format

newspaper clippings

Collection Number

MS 363

Collection Title

Beverly Deepe Keever, Journalism Papers

Creator

Keever, Beverly Deepe

Copyright Information

These images are for educational use only. To inquire about usage or publication, please contact Archives & Special Collections.

Publisher

Archives & Special Collections, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries

Language

English