The great fear that pervaded U.S. policy toward Korea 14 years ago today pervades U.S. policy toward South Viet Nam.
That is the fear of a confrontation with Communist China. It troubles President Johnson, who talks in terms of mortal peril about coming to grips "with 700 million Chinese." It came to afflict even General Douglas Mac Arthur, the old hero of Inchon and champion of crossing the Yalu, who in his declining years warned Johnson never to get involved in a war on the mainland of Asia.
No one talks seriously about a full-scale land war on China's mainland. But...