JFK Talking to Ambassador Lodge Regarding the Anti-Ngo Coup

[x]

I hadn't heard this conversation before. One of the
things about that's "new" is, JFK apparently acknowledged
in August '63 and Nhu would be killed if a coup occurred.

http://fullmeasure.news/news/shows/jfk-vietnam?fbclid=IwAR0ztmFtO2u0oOZBhsHdraqJCYBSrEVCg0JiUSTGBEySOqb4CGRKD7yEQjY

[Steve M. Galbraith]

Post by x
I hadn't heard this conversation before. One of the
things about that's "new" is, JFK apparently acknowledged
in August '63 and Nhu would be killed if a coup occurred.
http://fullmeasure.news/news/shows/jfk-vietnam?fbclid=IwAR0ztmFtO2u0oOZBhsHdraqJCYBSrEVCg0JiUSTGBEySOqb4CGRKD7yEQjY

Whether he knew they would be killed or not I'm very skeptical that he was
shocked by it. The fact that Lodge refused to intervene - was a passive
spectator - indicates to me that it apparently wasn't much of a concern.

Maxwell Taylor, the then Chairman of JCS who would later be named
ambassador to South Vietnam by LBJ, said this about the coup: "There was
the memory of Diệm to haunt those of us who were aware of the
circumstances of his downfall. By our complicity, we Americans were
responsible for the plight in which the South Vietnamese found
themselves".

As Colin Powell said about Iraq, "If you break it you own it." Once JFK
"broke" the government our involvement deepened considerably - morally,
politically, militarily. This situation what LBJ inherited. He gets blamed
for almost all of it while JFK gets a pass. History isn't fair but neither
is life.

[John Corbett]

Post by Steve M. Galbraith

Post by x
I hadn't heard this conversation before. One of the
things about that's "new" is, JFK apparently acknowledged
in August '63 and Nhu would be killed if a coup occurred.
http://fullmeasure.news/news/shows/jfk-vietnam?fbclid=IwAR0ztmFtO2u0oOZBhsHdraqJCYBSrEVCg0JiUSTGBEySOqb4CGRKD7yEQjY

Whether he knew they would be killed or not I'm very skeptical that he was
shocked by it. The fact that Lodge refused to intervene - was a passive
spectator - indicates to me that it apparently wasn't much of a concern.
Maxwell Taylor, the then Chairman of JCS who would later be named
ambassador to South Vietnam by LBJ, said this about the coup: "There was
the memory of Diệm to haunt those of us who were aware of the
circumstances of his downfall. By our complicity, we Americans were
responsible for the plight in which the South Vietnamese found
themselves".
As Colin Powell said about Iraq, "If you break it you own it." Once JFK
"broke" the government our involvement deepened considerably - morally,
politically, militarily. This situation what LBJ inherited. He gets blamed
for almost all of it while JFK gets a pass. History isn't fair but neither
is life.

I wonder who his message about being shocked was aimed at. Maybe he was
saying it to soothe his own conscience, trying to convince himself he
couldn't have seen that coming.

[Bryan Mack]

Post by John Corbett

Post by Steve M. Galbraith

Post by x
I hadn't heard this conversation before. One of the
things about that's "new" is, JFK apparently acknowledged
in August '63 and Nhu would be killed if a coup occurred.
http://fullmeasure.news/news/shows/jfk-vietnam?fbclid=IwAR0ztmFtO2u0oOZBhsHdraqJCYBSrEVCg0JiUSTGBEySOqb4CGRKD7yEQjY

Whether he knew they would be killed or not I'm very skeptical that he was
shocked by it. The fact that Lodge refused to intervene - was a passive
spectator - indicates to me that it apparently wasn't much of a concern.
Maxwell Taylor, the then Chairman of JCS who would later be named
ambassador to South Vietnam by LBJ, said this about the coup: "There was
the memory of Diệm to haunt those of us who were aware of the
circumstances of his downfall. By our complicity, we Americans were
responsible for the plight in which the South Vietnamese found
themselves".
As Colin Powell said about Iraq, "If you break it you own it." Once JFK
"broke" the government our involvement deepened considerably - morally,
politically, militarily. This situation what LBJ inherited. He gets blamed
for almost all of it while JFK gets a pass. History isn't fair but neither
is life.

I wonder who his message about being shocked was aimed at. Maybe he was
saying it to soothe his own conscience, trying to convince himself he
couldn't have seen that coming.

In a private conversation, Kennedy allegedly said that President Sukarno
of Indonesia should be "liquidated." Make of that what you will....this
reminds me somewhat of Jimmy Carter providing material aid to rebels in
Afghanistan, six months before the Soviet Union invaded. Carter's national
security advisor told him that this might increase the likelihood of the
Russians coming in, yet Carter expressed surprise anyway.