Kissinger's Vietnam Insights

During his visits to Vietnam in 1965 and 1966, Henry Kissinger, an advisor to the Johnson administration, faced conflicting reports from U.S. military leaders and his own observations. While generals like Westmoreland assured him that the war was progressing well, Kissinger privately recorded his doubts, labeling military reports as 'eyewash' and criticizing the bureaucratic inefficiencies he witnessed. His skepticism about the U.S. mission's viability grew as he learned that South Vietnamese forces were ineffective and that neither side was achieving significant progress. This paradox between official optimism and on-the-ground realities fueled Kissinger's evolving perception of the Vietnam War as a complex puzzle, highlighting his desire to be part of the solution, albeit years before he wielded significant power.