The Vietnam Escalation

The Americans, not noted for their accuracy, are, according to their own official statements, bombing targets within 10 or 15 miles of the Chinese border, With modern military techniques - and American pilots - this is virtually equivalent to bombing China itself. As a corollary to this, the bombing of Hanoi has been stepped and encompasses - again, according to official American sources - targets within 1 to 2 miles of city centre. Johnson's opponents in the United States have not been slow to point out what this means: "Escalating into Danger" is how the New York Times, of August 16 put it, in an editorial which savagely attacked Johnson's new adventure, Senator Mansfield termed the new bombing policy, in a statement on August 14, "dangerous and extremely stupid", As yet, Wilson remains silent - although several newspapers on August 16 reported that the Government had called for a report of the new bombing about this new escalation. Yet, we can say that never has the United States been so isolated as now. The central strategy of the movement in this country must be to bring maximum pressure to get Wilson to condemn American policy. We note that the British Council for Peace in Vietnam, the British Vietnam Committee, the British Peace Committee and a group of Labour M.P.s have responded to the situation, Despite the fact that there are important differences about the way to fight against the American war of aggression in Vietnam we are sure that all these organisations can get together on this question. An ideal unifying activity would be work in support of the new October 22nd demonstration ad hoc committee which has recently been formed.