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3 i i t 1 t t i i ; 4 4 4 i 2 that could negotiate with the Viet tong. To help with negotiations > -aceth Frécéon, 2006 Valuut S. , ee, Voren’s Int'l League fo: elezs2 of March 27, 1967 from A.F.S.C, Vy a 1 in 4 “The United Sisters has the pover to destroy Vietnex but it emnnot vin the people eteording to Bronson P. Clark, progrem essociete of the Anuerican Friends Service -Cormuittee, weo hes just returned from a two nonths survey trip to Vietnaz and So east Asia. fe . A, hale Pol “The Vietne eceept the e: reporting to fo we wish to step tte Jess of Anerican end Vietn lives, then ve cust lize thet we ere not defending fouth Vietrex but ere in a messive rilitery effort to inwose e governzent of our choice on South Vietnam.” » both Torth = ristrst thes Clerk traveled extensively in Vietnex, talking to militery, personel, Vietnenes Jeaéers end students, Journelists, end APSC staff members in Queng Ngei and in t Saigon area. : . . Clark wes in Vietzen during the “Iron Triangle" or “Cedar Falls Operation." He. ported that the Anericans strged fourteen consecutive 5-52 raids, erployed nepal flazethresers, defolietion en2 used ditch diggers and bolldozers “until the jung loved Mike a gient steel clsy hed raked it back and forth." Yet shortly efter. conclusions of this operation, the Viet Cong staged en antush which projuced hea casuelties to en Americen militery group. an : The tes _ “Thet is the story of this war," seid Clecx. “We have the ebility to move in fo where we wish, but cannot in fect pacify in any significent wey. The militery Andicate thet the war ise five-year wer et 2 minimem and that many more Arerice troops would have to be employed." Clark sai thet the edministretion in Vashin is demanding of our military unreasoneble dates and unetteinable opjectives. Clark said there were two myths holding up negotietions. The first ryth, thet + have slrost won the war, is contrary to the facts in the field. Even those jTro- vinces which ere declared "pacified" are, in fect, unsefe for Americans who live in forts surrounded by barbed wire end only venture out in armed strength. " “The second myth,” said Clerk, “is the continual stress on negotiations when, An act, the Anericen position in Vietnen is to drive forvard with the war in order to "win" something. Clark indicated that, if the Americans were sincere abort — negotiations, tuey should irzeiiately aliow a free press and pernit Buddhists, - @octers, journelists, and othsr Saigon intellectuals en Opportunity to begin to discuss nego detions with the National Liberation Front. "We cemot convince the Front -we wisa to negotiate when we make it dnpossible fo the Vietnenese to work-out exong thenselves whet form of Government might ensrze ; ricans n en internetional presence in Vietzem, to serve es a nedietor end to essist the - -. Jebnson einministration in ecauiring e practicel politicsl procedure a fron Vietacs, without political treuma in the United States. - . . . . —5- : - -