Vietnam: A Television History; America's Mandarin (1954 - 1963); 103; Cronkite Interviews JFK

A. I don't think that unless a greater effort is made by the government to win

popular support that with the war can be won out in the final analysis it's their war. They're the ones who have to win it or lose it. We can help them. Give them a quip and we can send men out there as advisors but they have to win it. The people of Vietnam against the communists we're prepared to continue to assist them. But I don't think that the war can be run if the people support the effort. In my opinion in the last 2 months the government has gotten out of touch with the repression against the Buddhists. We felt were very unwise. All we can do is to make it very clear we don't think this is the way to win. My hope that this will become increasingly obvious to the government that they will take steps to bring back popular support for this very influential struggle. What course makes Americans somewhat impatient is that after carrying that load for a thousand years we've got to get counsel but that we would like to more shift and relook at them but we're going to meet our responsibility anyway. Doesn't do us any good to say well

why don't we all just go home and leave the world to those who are our enemy demagogue not our enemy. He's a friend and candid friend in this sometimes difficult but not the object of our hostility. I don't think that unless a greater effort is made by the government to win popular thought that the walking be won out in the final analysis it's their war. They're the ones who have to win to lose it. We can help them give them a clip and send men out there as advisors but they have to win it the people of Vietnam against the communists. We're prepared to continue to assist them but I don't think that the war can be run if the people support the effort in my opinion in the last two months the government has gotten out of touch with. The repression against the Buddhists that we felt were very unwise.

All we can do is to make it very clear we don't think this is the way to win. My hope that that will become increasingly obvious to the government that they will take steps to bring back popular support for the very influential struggle because it makes Americans somewhat impatient is that after tying the flow breaking years we've got to get counsel but that we would like more than realistic. But we're going to meet our responsibility anyway doesn't do us any good to say well why don't we all just go home and leave the world to those who are enemies of the dog not our intimate friend and candid friend that I'm difficult but not the object of our hostility.