RIPPLE SALVO… #718… Three weeks into the countrywide Tet Offensive the JCS and all the President’s men were toying with the throttles and valves controlling forces and actions to take in response to the enemy’s initiatives and new momentum. Troop levels were a significant headache for the group since the availability of ready reserves was nowhere near the 100 to 200 thousand that Westmoreland wanted. The President came up with 10,500 to send off from Ft. Bragg and El Toro on the weekend of 17-18 February. Another valve that the heavies were adjusting was the limits on Rolling Thunder operations. Back-off or open it up? The guys in uniforms were adamant about tighter circles around Hanoi and Haiphong, and let it rip. Secretary McNamara’s advice to back-off was overridden by the President, who authorized 14 targets closer to the center of the two target cities than ever before, at a Tuesday luncheon on 6 February. The bombing issue was raised again a week later to the consternation of the President, and would remain unsettled well into March. Meanwhile, there was no shortage of advice from other sources, like the New York Times… but first…

Good Morning: Day SEVEN HUNDRED EIGHTEEN of a return to the 40-month air war called Rolling Thunder…

21 FEBRUARY 1968…HEAD LINES from The New York Times on a cold, clear Wednesday in New York…

ENEMY OFFENSIVE/KHESANH: Page 1: “ENEMY ATTEMPTS TO PUT ARTILLERY ON EDGE OF SAIGON–ANTIAIRCRAFT GUNS OBSERVED BY PILOTS NEAR AIRPORT–BOMBS THWART MOVE–Heavy Clash In Suburb–U.S. Troops Report Killing 123 Vietcong–Allies Step-up Patrols In Capital”… “Enemy forces tried to slip several antiaircraft guns into the outskirts of Saigon but were foiled by alert air observers…A spokesman for the command said that the guns were spotted from the air two miles south of the runways of Tansonnhut Airport, and that allied bombers responded immediately by striking the area. South Vietnamese ground troops also moved into the area, covered largely by rice paddies, and brisk fighting lasted much of the afternoon…. At the same time, heavy fighting broke out in a suburb six miles northeast of Saigon between troops of the United States First Infantry Division and about 500 Vietcong maneuvering near the main highway leading from Saigon to Bien Hoa and cities to the north….123 Vietcong were killed in the clash…15 American soldiers were killed and 11 wounded…. there is concern about the possibility of a ‘second wave’ of assaults by the enemy in the Saigon area…. Fighting at Hue in the 21st day, continued to drag on. Little progress was reported by the Marine units trying to drive an enemy force from the city’s ancient Citadel walls….United States and enemy troops also clashed again yesterday in the Mekong Delta city of Sonbe, where allied troops said they had killed 241 of the enemy over a three-day period…. In the Khesanh area in the northwest corner of South Vietnam where two to three North Vietnamese divisions are  massed, American Marines were harassed again with mortar fire… United States aircraft struck back again with heavy bombing and strafing raids in the area.”… Page 2: “Pentagon Identifies Men Killed in Vietnam Combat”… “reported that 19 servicemen preciously listed as missing in action in Vietnam are now listed as killed in action.”… Page 1: “HUE CHIEF ISSUES EXECUTION ORDER–Mayor Says Some Enemy Agents Face Death–U.S. Unable to Verify Report”... “The South Vietnamese military leader of war-devastated Hue today ordered that looters will be shot on sight and announced that there would be public executions within two days of some Communist agents arrested recently….One United States official was quoted s saying ‘There will be summary executions, public executions of VC and hopefully some of the infrastructure of the Communist party.”…

21 FEBRUARY 1968…OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER… New York times (22 Feb reporting 21 Feb ops) Page 1: “55 MISSIONS FLOWN”… “American pilots flew a total of 55 missions over North Vietnam. Poor weather made damage difficult to assess. Air Force pilots bombed railway sidings northeast of Hanoi and near Vinh and lines of communication and artillery positions in the Southern part of North Vietnam.”… “Vietnam: Air Losses” (Chris Hobson) there were no fixed wing aircraft lost in Southeast Asia on 21 February…

RIPPLE SALVO… #718… New York Times, 14 February 1968, Page 28:

“A BOMBING PAUSE–NOW”

“The Johnson Administration this week has once again demonstrated a greater tenacity and willingness to take risks in the conduct of war in Vietnam than in the pursuit of peace. Vowing no retreat from Khesanh or the embattled South Vietnamese cities, the Administration is rushing over 10,000 additional troops into the fray, further weakening this nation’s capacity to react to emergency elsewhere. At the same time, the Administration has withdrawn abruptly in the face of a Communist diplomatic offensive which, while unquestionably loaded with risks, presents an opportunity for a fresh bid to end this increasingly costly, dangerous, and senseless conflict.

“According to Secretary General U Thant, who has just conferred with North Vietnamese representatives and others, Hanoi is prepared to enter into prompt and meaningful negotiations if the United States unconditionally stops bombing North Vietnam. Mr. Thant’s view is reinforced by recent statements from Hanoi and Moscow and by Prime Minister Wilson’s report that the gap between North Vietnam and the United States on negotiations is ‘very narrow.’

“The principal remaining obstacle appears to be White House insistence on assurances from Hanoi that the North Vietnamese will not take advantage of a bombing halt to increase the flow of men and supplies into South Vietnam. This is the San Antonio Formula which is not unreasonable in view of the massive buildup North Vietnamese troops and supplies now threatening American forces at Khesanh.

“Actions necessary to provide immediate support for American troops in the area just below the demilitarized zone do not rule out a more flexible American initiative to test the negotiating; formula advanced by Hanoi. This initiative could, and in our view should, involve cessation of the bombing of North Vietnam, excluding only such tactical air support in the vicinity of the DMZ as may be appropriate for defense of Khesanh and the other threatened garrisons in that region.

“As we have long maintained and believe more strongly than ever, the bombing of North Vietnam does not on balance contribute to the security of American forces in the South. The strategic aerial campaign has conspicuously failed to achieve any of its stated objectives. It has not forced Hanoi to the peace table; rather it has stiffened the North Vietnamese will to resist and helped prolong the war, thus increasing American and allied casualties. It has not significantly reduced the flow of men and supplies to the South; instead, that flow has increased with acceleration of the air war, as is amply demonstrated by the present predicament. of allied forces’

“At the same time, American bombing attacks on the North have alienated world and domestic opinion, increased the danger of direct conflict with the Soviet Union and China, forced North Vietnam into greater dependence on its Communist allies and exacted a heavy toll of American aircraft and airmen. There is compelling reason why the strategic air campaign against the North should not be stopped or even the slimmest chance that such restrain could lead on talks–and perhaps forestall the bloody battle now facing American forces at Khesanh. As long as Khesanh is threatened, of course, continuing tactical air strikes against enemy concentrations and supply lines in the immediate area will remain a matter of inescapable military necessity. But in calling a halt to strategic strikes against the North, the President could offer to reduce such tactical attacks as the pressure on Khesanh is eased.

“Hanoi may and probably will rebuff such a qualified offer, however reasonable. But it is the duty of American diplomacy to persist in every possible effort; to bring this horrible war to an honorably negotiated conclusion. It would be difficult to challenge the sincerity of a United States diplomatic initiative based on the practical conditions we have suggested’

“If Administration spokesmen appear to discourage further diplomatic efforts, however, and if United States planes persist in pounding Hanoi and other targets far from the battle area, many will continue to question American intentions and Hanoi retain the diplomatic as well as the military initiative. President Johnson’s comment at his press conference last evening that Hanoi is not ready to negotiate may be perfectly true; but without a halt in the bombing the President fails to make it clear to many Americans and to much of the world that he is ready on his part.”…

RTR Quote for 21 February: WALTER LIPPMANN, in Washington Post, 1965: “Nobody has yet found a way of bombing that can prevent foot soldiers from walking.”…

Lest we forget…     Bear