Word: westmorelands
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Chilling Parallels. "This emphatically is not 'Westmoreland's War,' " observes TIME Washington Bureau Chief John Steele. "In years past, it has been quite properly referred to as 'McNamara's War,' and currently it can be referred to as 'Johnson's War.' From no source is there real criticism yet of Westy's military activities. This will come should Khe Sanh, by some horrible fate, fall...
Criticized or not, Westmoreland obviously will return to the U.S. one day. Talk of his imminent recall last summer turned out to be merely rumor, and with the battle looming at Khe Sanh, his return at this moment would certainly stir considerable speculation. Yet he has already spent four years in Viet Nam, long enough so that he could logically be relieved at any time...
Undoubtedly, history's judgment of Westmoreland's generalship will depend in large measure on the outcome of the expected Khe Sanh battle. Some critics feel that defending the remote outpost is a foolish gamble that heavily favors the Communists. "Why fight at Khe Sanh at all?" asks French General André Beaufre, who served for five years in Indo-China. "Logistically, the fight favors the North Vietnamese. You have allowed them once again to choose the time and place of battle...
Nonetheless, there are analysts who fear that Westmoreland may be falling into a trap set by North Viet Nam Defense Minister Vo Nguyen Giap, hero of Dienbienphu and strategist of the current offensive. Indeed, there are some chilling parallels between Giap's winter-spring offensive in 1954 and the current Red strategy. While the Communists built up their strength at Dienbienphu to 40,000 men-the estimated force now around Khe Sanh-they simultaneously launched assaults against the French throughout Indo-China. The Tet offensive was a similar widespread assault by the Communists which may have been aimed...
...Westmoreland and the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who unanimously approved his strategy, are counting on U.S. airpower, firepower and troop strength to make the difference. Unlike the French, who had few warplanes and were able to mount only 10,400 air missions to Dienbienphu in five months, the U.S. could equal that number in a few days with the 5,900 planes and helicopters it has in Viet...