The Working Group
Heading up the working group was William Bundy (Brother of McGeorge Bundy). Director of the 's military assistance program to Saigon from 1961–1964, he was at the apex of most Vietnam decisions. Bundy hoped for the best, but realized the best was not always feasible in Vietnam. The representative from the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Vice Admiral Lloyd Mustin, was much more certain America could and should win a battle in North Vietnam. The two men's differing points of view were synthesized by John McNaughton, a personal representative of Robert McNamara in the working group, who called from "translating the facets of a problem into statistical probabilities in order to facilitate precise, objective decisions." McNaughton came to the view that "progress inside SVN important... unlikely despite our best ideas and efforts..." and admitted that "Action against North Vietnam is to some extent a substitute for strengthening the government of South Vietnam."
Read more about this topic: NSC Working Group On South Vietnam
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