"Crop destruction was shot down in State and the prospects are not good. However, I hope to get a paper to the White House which, while giving Stateʼs disapproval, will at least contain the pros and cons of this project. The matter will reach the White House since Defense is submitting a separate memorandum favoring the project. The objections are centered around the Governorʼs general feeling that destroying crops by helicopters, even though flown by Vietnamese, will be a dramatic and frightening demonstration of white manʼs weapons used against Asian food. And secondly, how can we be sure that we are destroying food for Viet Cong use only, at a time when it is important to not only bring the Montagnards over to our side but also to send them back to their homes or at least to areas where their patrols can be useful."
-Chalmers B. Wood, former Director of the Vietnam Working Group
“[I am} firmly opposed to letting
crop destruction be tried out.”
- Eric E. Rice, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs
"Destroying crops will inevitably have political repercussions. Intelligence is not yet reliable enough to assure that the crops destroyed are those controlled solely by the Viet Cong. Some innocent, or at least persuadable, peasants will be hurt and the Viet Cong will make the most of this in their propaganda and recruiting...." "...the way to win a guerrilla war, basically, is to win the people. Crop destruction runs counter to this basic rule. The problem of identifying fields on which the Viet Cong depend is hardly susceptible to solution so long as the Viet Cong and the people are co-mingled....I further recommend that the program under immediate consideration be disapproved." |
"On the basis of extensive evaluation, I am satisfied that crop destruction, even in sections of one province, could provide a substantial military advantage." "...it is strange that we can bomb, kill, and burn people but are not permitted to starve them.” |
"The Joint Chiefs of Staff recommend that:
a. Herbicide operations be prosecuted in Vietnam on a continuing basis.
b. The Country Team, Vietnam, be authorized to approve crop destruction as well as other defoliation targets based on existing target selection criteria. Resultant reports and evaluations would continue to be made."
-General Maxwell Taylor, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs (successor to Lyman Lemnitzer)