from an Ameriean reader
Two recent articles in authoritative U.S. journals shows thé tremendous crisis in policy that faces the.ruling circles in the United States... Becuese ciothe complete failure of its attempts to pose as a defender of democracy win ‘Vietnamsand ‘the, increasing -restiveness .of its allies, . U.S. imperialism is having» to re-think all its attitudes. , Hence the ferment of idéas and argu- ‘ments in‘the bourgoeis papers... The first article appeared in the September 13th issue.of Newsweek, and.was. by Walter Lippmenns Entitled "The Vietnamese War Today," the article.arguess
o"ewith its.enormous.sea and air power the United States” can seize and hold strong. points on- the rim.of the Asian mainland," but it had not the’ power to reach out deep into the interior. "Nor have we shown that when we occupy ~ @ point: in, the interior. we can. leave and. ‘not. have it overrun’ again by the Viet Congel
The article lista the rtofouta’ changes" detrimental to U,S. seeaieles ism’ that have taken place in the’ balance of forces’in Asia in recent years. Lippmann said,'"..thus, in the spring of 1964 the Saigon Government had not. yet lost the war in South Vietnam. Now, for’ all’ practical purposes, it has lost ‘the war ‘This had Happened by ‘the end of 1964 and was ‘the main reason for the adoption of our bombing ‘policy. ‘For it’ was feared that the Saigon army and’ ‘the Saigon Government would fall apart, Nevértheless, today the Saigon Government does not’ govern thé countryside, and even in the big cities, including Saigon itself, it is unable ’to provide security. There is little prospect’ of reversing the defeat of Saigon and-little ‘reason to believe that a government which will have the support and confidence of the Vietnamese people jcan be formed .by be Axlemess soldiers and politicians. +> "A second change in ‘the Asian balance of forces has been the decline of British power from. Aden to Singapore. The United States is faced with the .- prospect, of being the only Western power left which is. still operating with military force in:Asian.affairs," The closer ties between Indonesia and. China and ,between Pakistan. and.China were the "third change of far-reathing . importancee. In Japan and in the Philippines. there is, moreover, a rising tide of anti-American. feeling, Our, very. considerable military effort on the mainland: has. thus,far not been accompanied by a rise in American political influence."
Lippmann concludes : "se ewe must, I. think, come to the conclusion that we cannot. be. the. preventer of revolutions on the mainland of Asia, To'do that is not a practical objective for a nation, like ours, which feach no farther ~ into Asia than its sea and air power can ore ‘
The September 10th on of U.S. News and World Report haa an’ article which asked: "How hslpful are’'U.S,allies™, The article said "Americans, linked in defence pacts with 42 nations, find these partners of scant help in today's world...aid given by the U.S. to these allies to help: their economy and their armed forces adds up to S76 billion." But when "partners are called upon for help in military operations or in aid", "that impressive strength” ‘is found by U.S. officials to fade away." Citing Vietnam as an example, the article continues: "In Vietnam, the U.S. almost alone is called upon to carry the burden of a mean and costly war, Allies mostly offer only advice, much of it critical," Dealing with criticism from America's European partners, the article went on: "The President must make up his mind which he wants most, American freedom of unilaterzl action or the political support of his European allies," One can see from this article and t e previous one what a key role British support of U.S. plays. If Labour were “break with this policy Johnson would really be in a mess, “It-is to be hoped that that takes place.