1:32:00
In no way could this be interpreted
as a withdrawal.
1:32:03
It's a change of strategy...
1:32:05
and I have appointed the former
Lieutenant Colonel John Vann...
1:32:08
whom you all know--
1:32:09
please come up here--
1:32:12
to act as my deputy
for military functions.
1:32:14
He will help me implement
this strategy.
1:32:17
He will serve as a commanding general
for the central highlands region.
1:32:21
Please, General,
help me clarify this.
1:32:23
You're placing a U.S. civilian
in command of South Vietnamese troops...
1:32:27
in the central highlands,
which is a fairly sizable area...
1:32:30
while the rest of the U.S. troops
pull back?
1:32:33
We're not pulling back.
The South Vietnamese are moving forward.
1:32:36
Doesn't "Vietnamization"
mean withdrawal?
1:32:39
Well, that's what we're trying
to explain to you...
1:32:41
if you just pay attention.
1:32:43
John, haven't you always advocated that
the U.S. take control here in Saigon?
1:32:47
That's correct. But Tet has proved
that the South Vietnamese...
1:32:50
are capable and willing
to take control of this war.
1:32:53
The American people
have been completely demoralized...
1:32:57
by recent developments.
1:32:59
Not at all. On the contrary,
our intelligence, in fact, indicates...
1:33:02
it is the Vietcong
who have been demoralized since Tet.
1:33:06
I'm highly confused,
and I find this contradictory...
1:33:08
because with this restructuring, the
South Vietnamese are not in command...
1:33:12
but you are, Mr. Vann, while
the U.S. forces go out the back door.
1:33:15
No one is going out the back door,
I can assure you.
1:33:17
Will any American soldiers
be going home?
1:33:19
Certainly, as the Vietnamese people
assume greater responsibility...
1:33:23
there will be some reassignment
of U.S. support personnel.
1:33:26
John, did you meet with President Nixon
and discuss Vietnamization?
1:33:30
I met the president, yes.
1:33:31
So, was it his policy
or your policy?
1:33:34
It's the policy
of the United States government.
1:33:36
U.S. policy has not changed
from day one...
1:33:40
in terms of our involvement
in helping the people...
1:33:43
of the Republic of Vietnam.
1:33:45
Nixon ordered all American combat troops
out of Vietnam by June of 1972.
1:33:50
The South Vietnamese, although backed
by American air support and advisors...
1:33:55
would have to fight
the war themselves.
1:33:58
Ten years down the road,
we were back to where we started.