Word: seato
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...classic war of nerves. The war was fought against a sizable buildup of U.S. forces all across the Pacific. Tempers sharpened as the U.S. passed quiet word of deadlines that were just as quietly ignored by the Russians. The U.S. set out to rally its allies at the SEATO meeting in Bangkok while the Russians met secretly with theirs at a meeting of the War, saw Pact countries. With a loose agreement to negotiate, neither Kennedy nor Khrushchev came out the clear-cut victor. But by delaying their answer, the Russians had once again indicated that they felt that time...
...hint of a big stick-a warning that, in spite of all the hazards of warfare and the possibility of another Korea, the U.S. would fight if necessary to keep the Reds from overrunning Laos. The troops were ready, and Secretary of State Rusk was at the SEATO conference in Bangkok to rally the U.S.'s allies (see following story...
Focus of Action. As U.S. forces begin the move, Thailand-a fellow SEATO power-becomes the focus of action. With key bases established at Udon, Korat and Bangkok, the West can rake Communist-held portions of Laos with ease. In case of battle, U.S. combat troops would probably not be the first to go into action in Laos. Instead, U.S.-manned helicopters and transports would drop guerrilla forces of Thais, Pakistanis and Filipinos into the fighting sectors while U.S. troops occupied the Mekong River valley towns from Savannakhet through Paksane and Vientiane, up to Luangprabang; this would provide strong defense...
...Task Force commander, Weller can also call on a considerable phalanx of Southeast Asian forces both inside and out of SEATO. The Thais have a sharp, U.S.-trained cadre of 90,000 soldiers equipped with M-1 rifles, and a good air force with F-86s. South Viet Nam's 150,000-man defense force is available, and so is Cambodia's army of 28,000, the tough Philippines' of 50,000, and Pakistan's soldiery numbering 160,000. Poised for take-off in Malaya are the 2,500 members of Britain's crack Commonwealth...
Rusk can do in Washington exactly what he can do in Bangkok. And by staying home, he will not raise hopes and expectations that a speedy resolution to the SEATO division is possible. In the months to come, there will be other such crises and similar cries for him and Kennedy to bring salvation in a travelling kit. If the Kennedy administration really means to lay things on the line to the people, then it had better not start by re-introducing personal diplomacy...