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.
1:34:02
But this time,
John Paul Vann was in charge.
1:34:05
Intelligence says the enemies
moved large numbers of troops--
1:34:08
maybe five divisions--
down the Ho Chi Minh Trail to here.
1:34:12
We also know that there's
heavy artillery, even tanks...
1:34:15
further north.
1:34:22
I see what they're after.
1:34:24
If they can break through the line here
and head for the sea...
1:34:26
they'll have cut our forces in half
and have a clear shot at Saigon.
1:34:30
If the South Vietnamese troops
can't hold the line, it's over.
1:34:33
The South Vietnamese are good soldiers.
They just need some goddamn leadership.
1:34:37
Oh, they'll hold the line.
We'll do one better.
1:34:41
We might turn this whole
goddamn thing around.
1:34:47
I think General Giap's about to make
the mistake we've been making all along.
1:34:50
He's gonna try to fight this thing
in a conventional fashion.
1:34:54
If we can persuade him to send
his troops out of these hills...
1:34:58
he'll be vulnerable,
and that's where we could crush him.