Questioning the Basic Premises

Abstract

Since the beginning of our intervention in Vietnam there has been much criticism of our ill-fated policy there. Much of it, however, has been aimed at our tactics and techniques and therefore has not been very effective because, once the basic premises and assumptions of the government's policy in Vietnam are accepted, a good case can be made out by the Administration for the means employed. What should be criticized and attacked are the basic premises and assumptions, for these seem, in almost every instance, to be demonstrably false.Before examining these basic premises, however, it may be well to say a few words about the climate in which all of our foreign policy since World War II has been conducted. The two words which most succinctly characterize this climate are fear and hate.