Internet Exercise 1

The Effectiveness of Rolling Thunder

Please read the Institute for Defense Analysis's August 29, 1966, Bombing Evaluation:

Then read Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara's May 19, 1967, memorandum to President Lyndon Johnson:


1		According to the Institute for Defense Analysis, why did the American Rolling Thunder air campaign fail to have a meaningful effect on North Vietnam's ability to support military operations in South Vietnam?



2		Did the authors of the Institute for Defense Analysis study believe that the U.S. could achieve better success by mining Haiphong harbor and by ending geographical constraints on the bombing? Why or why not?



3		According to the Institute for Defense Analysis report, on what two sets of causal relationships did the Rolling Thunder bombing campaign rest? Do the authors of the report agree with those assumptions? Why or why not?



4		What conclusions did the Institute for Defense Analysis report draw about the bombing campaign's impact on the infiltration of men and supplies into South Vietnam?



5		Did Secretary of Defense McNamara believe that the bombing effort had met with success in its effort to force Hanoi to accept a negotiated settlement? Explain.



6		According to McNamara, what costs did the bombing campaign incur for the United States?



7		In light of these documents, do you believe that the United States should have persisted in bombing North Vietnam? Explain.

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