Foreign Relations: Toward a Winning Commitment

The U.S. is committed to preventing a Communist military victory in South Viet Nam. That is settled fact.

But how many American troops will it take to fulfill that commitment? And to what degree should they be involved in the actual fighting? The answers to these questions are far from settled.

Last week they were the subject of continuing controversy—and confusion.

Doubt & Confirmation. The Viet Cong's monsoon-season offensive was under way (see THE WORLD), and the Johnson Administration last week announced publicly for the first time that U.S. troops have been authorized to fight, in combat units, alongside their South...