0 - The Black Vault

THE BDM CORPORATION
win the war against the Viet Cong.
committed
But Diem soon learned that the US was
to him as the only Vietnamese leader capable of rallying his
country to defeat the communists.
Armed with this knowledge he could defer
action or ignore the Ambassador with relative impunity. By 1961, Durbrow
was cut off from the Palace, with little information about what was going
on and even less influence over events. Under Frederick Nolting as US
Ambassador, the US pursued a very different tactic. Forewarned not to
allow himself to be isolated, Nolting set out through the patient cultivation
of Diem's friendship and trust to secure a role for himself as Diem's
close and confidential advisor,
But there had been no basic change in
American belief that there was no alternative to Diem, and Diem quickly
sensed this, for he continued to respond primarily to family interest,
secure in the knowledge that utlimately the US
matter what he did.
No
would not abandon him no
Both tactics failed because of American commitment.
amount of pressure or persuasion was likely to be effective in getting
Diem to adopt ideas or policies which he did not find to his liking, since
the US communicated an unwillingness to consider the ultimate sanction--
withdrawal of support for the Diem regime. The US had ensnared itself in a
powerless, no alternatives policy.
With US
support, the Diem government continued to show some
semblance of stability and authority through mid-1963.
Th3t is in spite of
the constant pressure from the Viet Cong insurgents who had seriously
eroded his control over the countryside, Also, repressive action against
Buddhist protestors had severely weakened popular support for nis regime.
Diem was in trouble and the US government was forced to reassess its position
with respect to his government.
time were:.
The major options apparent at that
. to continue to support Diem - despite his (and his brother Nhu's)
growing unpopularity with the South Vietnamese (and he US
public).
0 to encourage or tacitly support thL overthrow of Diem (taking the
"risk that 'he GVN might crumble and/or accommodate to the Viet
Cong).
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