Fatal Politics: The Nixon Tapes, Vietnam & the Biggest...Landslide, Episode Five: Decent Interval II

President Richard Nixon used the diplomatic opening to China to negotiate a face-saving "decent interval" deal on Vietnam, one that would postpone, not prevent, Communist military victory. His own secretly recorded White House tapes captured him saying, "South Vietnam probably can never even survive anyway." He had told the American people the opposite, prolonging the war for four years and adding 20,000 American casualties saying the sacrifice was necessary so that one day the South could defend and govern itself. As his tapes reveal, he did not believe that day would come. He prolonged the war to conceal his inability to win it, and he negotiated a settlement that would put a "decent interval" between his final troop withdrawal and the Communists' final military victory--one long enough to make Saigon's fall look like Saigon's fault. "Weve got to find some formula," National Security Adviser Henry Kissinger said, "that holds the thing together a year or two."

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[fatalpolitics]

Whether Berman admits that the evidence proves him wrong is a separate matter from whether the evidence proves him wrong. In his book, Berman simply failed to consider the relevant tapes that had already been released. That's a methodological flaw, not a difference of interpretation. And yes, on Dec. 2, 2008, we will have more tapes to hear. These include ones from the Christmas Bombing period of 1972, which will make it a whole lot easier for me to write Episode Seven :D

[fatalpolitics]

So who are you, damselcc, and what is your theory?

I'm not sure which "indicates" you refer to. The tapes and documents prove Nixon adopted a "decent interval" exit strategy no later than early 1971, but it may have been earlier. (The tapes only start in February 1971.)

The problem with Berman's book, "No Peace, No Honor," is that he didn't weigh the relevant evidence. The evidence is on tapes he didn't listen to and in documents he didn't read.

[fatalpolitics]

I disagree, in that the Lam Son 719 offensive was just a way to delay, not deny, a Communist military victory. His secret Oval Office taping began February 16, 1971, and by that time, as the tapes indicate, he had settled on a "decent interval" exit strategy.

[holajim]

This is probably happening now, while some of our best Patriots are over there dying for NOTHING.

[letony2001]

Thank  you for disclosing the Truth!

[damselcc]

I like your use of the word "indicates." When someone uses the word "proves," it appears that they are being dismissive of other scholarly interpretations. As far as I know, no one has established the exact date that Nixon and Kissinger accepted the decent interval option. Kimball theorizes that it was 70 or 71, Hanhimaki declares the date is debatable, and Berman does not even buy the decent interval theory. Both Berman and Kimball have told me that my theory is valid.

[dccarles]

Uhm.

Holy crap.

That's all I can say. Except for 'I wish more people saw this.'