Chapters 11-12 Summary and Analysis

The commitment of U.S. advisors made Vietnam an important country to the U.S. government. The government was now dependent on the reports it received from the military. Harkins sent reports that reassured them. Nobody checked the reports that the government was receiving. The soldiers on the line were opposed to this false reporting because it endangered their lives. This resulted in an effort to repress the dissent, unknown to Washington. There was conflict and tension now between Harkins and his people in the Mekong Delta and at one point, Harkins wanted to fire one of them but was told there would be too many political repercussions. The official view in the Pentagon was that Harkins was obeying the orders of Taylor.

Eventually, the White House staff tried to limit the military. They were opposed to one another...