Quote:
| Originally Posted by brian eiland Although he loyally supported administration policy, McNamara gradually became skeptical about whether the war could be won by deploying more troops to South Vietnam and intensifying the bombing of North Vietnam. He traveled to Vietnam many times to study the situation firsthand. He became increasingly reluctant to approve the large force increments requested by the military commanders. |
Indeed, once the Army's operational doctrine became,
"We have to destroy the village in order to save it" - pouring more gasoline on the fire began to appear counterproductive.
Quote:
| Originally Posted by brian eiland The Tet offensive of early 1968, although a military defeat for the enemy, clearly indicated that the road ahead for both the United States and the South Vietnamese government was still long and hard. By this time McNamara had already submitted his resignation, chiefly because of his disillusionment with the war. |
Well, as much as Rummy was "possessed" with the idea of not fighting another Vietnam (and trying repeatedly to "win" it back, at least in his own mind) - he failed to stay around long enough to see a repeat of a Tet -style Offensive in Baghdad; which my friends is
right around the corner (i.e., the due date on GEN Patraeus's report on the Surge, come September).
Ready?