Conversation 885-006

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I was wondering,

Yes, there has.

Yes, and I think the reduction is based on the climate season rather than on

any representation that we have made, as near as we can figure out, their infiltration has been this year just like it was last year.

And that there has been no...

In other words, the ceasefire, the agreement, had no effect at all on what they've done.

Uh...

It is apparently taking off.

Yes, yes, I have.

He is inclined to think that maybe we should delay a day instead of...

He's afraid, I think, that if we don't do something now, that we'll be in worse shape next fall.

And that this is perhaps the best time to send them a signal that's unmistakable.

There is a consideration about the Laos situation, and Ambassador Godley has pointed out to us that the 23rd is the date that the new Laotian government is supposed to be formed.

Right.

It's a pretty bad time.

That's what he said, that the 23rd is the moment of the 25th.

There apparently may be some acceleration in the last POW release.

The PRG has now recommended or proposed the 25th.

The 25th.

That's Sunday, I believe.

Now, Henry doesn't really think that a strike would interfere with the POW release.

Of course.

I think that the closer the two are together, the more difficult it makes it for them to go ahead and release.

But I...

Yes, he has.

As a matter of fact, I got just a brief paragraph here.

I believe Godley makes a good point with the possibility of following up the Laotian negotiations.

However, none of the considerations advanced last week have really changed, which is true.

I don't believe the North Vietnamese decision on withdrawal will depend on one series of strikes.

Another danger is that they will delay release of the POWs.

The counterargument is that they would tend to be much more ruthless next fall.

The President should be made aware of the godly argument.

We should not in any case go before Thursday night.

My recommendation on balance would be that we go then.

The other possibility would be to do it next week after the POWs.

Out.

This makes this one less effective too.

The use of the after they are out, the support here is way down.

It's way down and I think it also breaks the sea star even though it's a monster.

The point is, therefore, they also, they argue, if you get now, and the idea being, well, if you get now, the field of it is still there, and it sort of puts them on notice, maybe you might do it again.

That's going to evaporate, in my opinion, and we have to be candid about what's going to happen, due to the fact that the Congress will insist on approval of any major strike.

but as far as the use of american air power

There are Vietnamese forces coming into the South.

Unless it is raw, they could, uh, they could be terrible.

It would be impossible for you to get it without a congressional order.

You see, that's quite the argument that you could make.

The argument, it's a very nice argument to say that, well, if I take it now, we demonstrate that the president is a kind of guy that would use power.

Fine.

It may demonstrate we use it now, but it is not necessarily demonstrated we use it later.

No, there's circumstances.

That's the problem.

There's circumstances that we should change, and that's

So the real question is whether it's worth it or not, just by its own sake.

Yes, I think that... By its own sake, not because of the calling card or the next election, but by its own sake, whether it's really worth it.

Some of these planes are going to knock out a few trucks, and sure, they only got one of those.

That's the question.

In terms of its military effect, I don't think it is.

That's the point.

You know, we...

We've hit a long road for the first day or two, and it would hurt a lot to say that we've done it for years.

You know, we're talking about a few more days or something to make up for what we lose in it, what they would lose in it if we strike.

I feel that if we're going to strike,

really needs to be before the last POW release.

And I think afterwards, as you say, we're not likely to have any one incident around which we could coalesce.

So, my point is, why do you do it then?

Do you do it now?

For what purpose?

To let them know that, hey, watch out, you're going to lose again.

I know it's going to be very believable.

I've heard a range of stories about how it happened.

the whole feeling in Congress that the country will be in a crisis or not, and let's not go back in.

I don't buy it hardly.

I don't buy it with decency at all, but that's going to be the fact.

There's no question about that.

And I think... See, Henry always is an activist.

He's not very clear.

He's quite risky then, and he did what he did for the church.

There's no question about that.

I think on the other side,

The argument would be that they obviously are pushing against the agreement.

They're testing to see what they can get away with, to see how far they can go.

And that if we hit them now, we will have registered something

With them.

That's right.

And that maybe it would forestall them doing something later on which they otherwise would do, having decided that they could get away with almost anything because we didn't react this time.

Now...

But nothing that we decide today, nothing we decide tomorrow.

No, that's right, that's right.

Now, I have...

When does Henry get back?

He'll be back the night of the 26th.

That's... That's next Monday, I believe.

Yes, next Monday.

Okay.

Well, that's it.

We just keep posting these things.

Yes, sir.

I certainly will.

Thank you very much.