Pentagon+Papers

Overview[[image:vietnam.jpg width="150" height="203" align="right" caption="A map of the area related to the Pentagon Papers" link="http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel/pentagon/vietnam.jpg"]]
In 1971 American forces were involved in a war with North Vietnam. Among American citizens, this war was extremely controversial. Many believed that the United States shouldn’t have had any participation in the war. It was viewed as a war that could not be won. Guerilla warfare was used in the mountainous forests of Vietnam. The circumstances made it hard to decipher our allies, South Vietnam, from our enemies, North Vietnam. This war came at the time of a broader war referred to as the Cold War. It was America’s way of fighting communism.

Critical Issue
During the Vietnam War the Pentagon Papers were exposed. It was portrayed, initially, to the public as the Pentagon study of Vietnam. The government explained it as, “an elaborate program of covert military operations against the state of North Vietnam.” Operation Plan 34A began on February 1, 1964 under the orders of President Johnson. Secretary McNamara, founder of the arrangement, described the communist situation in North Vietnam as, “progressively escalating pressure.” He thought that this would, as the New York Times reported, “…force Hanoi to order the Vietcong guer

rillas in Vietnam and Pathet Lao in Laos to halt their insurrections.” This referred to North Vietnam attacking non red South Vietnam. The Pentagon Papers resulted in spying, kidnappings, raids, and psychological harassment on North Vietnam. Operation Plan 34A had essentially begun the Vietnam War long before Congress had consente

[[image:PentagonPapers_bookcover.jpg width="150" height="219" align="right" caption="A copy of the Pentagon Papers" link="http://www.deckerfoundry.com/images/PentagonPapers_bookcover.jpg"]]
d, let alone informed the public.

Conclusion/Historical Significance
The release of the Pentagon Papers was not because of the consent of the government, as one may imagine. Information regarding this scandal w

as uncovered by a reporter from The New York Times Washington bureau. Neil Sheehan’s efforts began a series of published articles in the New York Times, beginning on June 13, 1971. Theses papers had essentially contradicted the reasoning the public had been given for entering the Vietnam War, the Tonkin crisis. With the exposure of these articles, the public began to revolt. The Pentagon Papers had caused Americans to go to war with themselves. Protests, riots, boycotts were popular methods for Americans to show their disapproval of the war. Operation Plan34A became a major factor in American resistance to the Vietnam War.