Word: thieu
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Despite these grim possibilities, there were those last week who held to an optimistic interpretation of Thieu's great retreat. Many analysts, especially in the Pentagon, felt that Saigon had realistically given up provinces it was bound to lose anyway, shortened its supply lines, consolidated its forces and prepared a more defensible perimeter. Beyond that, it could be argued that the Communists would have to divert considerable effort and energy to consolidate their hold on the surrendered provinces...
...pessimistic view was that Thieu, by giving up so much territory without a fight, has created a serious morale problem for his army and his people. He has abandoned thousands of South Vietnamese to the Communists and created a horrendous refugee problem that dwarfs anything yet seen...
...best Thieu can hope for," concluded one State Department official, "is a stalemate." Would more U.S. aid have helped? Ford Administration officials last week emphatically answered yes, and tried to blame Saigon's reverses on congressional failure to appropriate the extra $300 million requested by the President. Secretary of Defense James Schlesinger argued that if the U.S. had been "less niggardly" toward South Viet Nam, Thieu would not have to give up the provinces. To support that point, White House Press Secretary Ron Nessen displayed an article from the Hanoi journal Hoc Tap that seemed to tie the current...
...since the Communists refuse to deal with Thieu, no political arrangement seems possible so long as he remains in power. Conversely, Thieu has made it clear that he will not tolerate a political role for the Communists. Thus the political standoff seems unresolvable. What is left is the war, and in that the Communists as of last week seemed to have the upper hand...
...week long, Saigon was buzzing with rumors about President Nguyen Van Thieu. One air force officer, after swearing his family to secrecy, told them that the President was under house arrest. Some said that the President was preparing to flee the country. Others heard that he was ready to resign...