|
November 2007 Newsletter |
of this page
| misperception | reality |
| Rebels in the conflicted nation were non-Communist "agrarian reformers," "left- wing democrats," idealistic "nationalists." |
They were Communists – trained, financed, equipped by Russia or a satellite country. |
| Anti-Communists there were "reactionary elitists" whom the U.S. should shun. |
The U.S. helped push the nation from bad authoritarianism to worse totalitarianism. |
| Ceasefires were desirable, on terms satisfactory to the Communists. |
If anti-Communists were winning, the U.S. demanded ceasefires, which Communists violated to improve their position. |
| All parties to the conflict must join in a coalition government. |
Communists in the coalition government seized the internal security apparatus. Anti-Communists then quit or were fired. |
| The U.S. should cut economic and military aid, to bend anti-Communists to the ceasefires and coalition government. |
Communists got much military aid from the Soviet bloc. |
| Anti-Communists were demoralized because their leaders were corrupt. |
Anti-Communists were demoralized because they lacked arms and ammunition. |
| The U.S. was fighting Communism. | The U.S. was empowering Communists. |
| Communists won due to internal causes beyond U.S. control. |
The capacity for self-deception was great because the need for illusion was deep. |
