12 Jun 2007
To: Henry Mattox
Subject: Bullington’s piece on Vietnam
Henry:
I just read the splendid article on Vietnam by J.R. Bullington in American Diplomacy. Too few writers who look back on that war, place it in the proper context of the real and perceived Cold War threats faced by our nation. I would only add that our Vietnam policymakers were also very much influenced by the “lessons of Munich,” which taught that it was important to resist aggression by an expansionist power early, and that appeasement would only lead to greater aggression and demands in the future.
All the best,
Francis