Flashback: Westmoreland's Optimistic Testimony About Vietnam War Progress In 1967
September 10, 2007 -- 5:21 PM EST // //

In anticipation of General Petraeus' testimony before Congress today, many analysts were comparing his appearance to a similar speech made before Congress by another General a generation ago -- William Westmoreland, who spoke on April 28, 1967, to assuage deep public doubts about the Vietnam War.

Even Bush himself has encouraged broader comparisons between Iraq and Vietnam when it has suited him.

We dug up Westmoreland's actual speech about the Vietnam War that day in 1967. You can read it here, in the New York Times's archives (sub. required). Here's a key excerpt:

Given the nature of the enemy, it seems to me that the strategy that we are following at this time is the proper one, and that is producing results. While he is obviously is far from quitting, there are signs that his morale and his military structure are beginning to deteriorate. The rate of decline will be in proportion to the pressure directed against him....

As you know, we are fighting a war with no front lines, since the enemy hides among the people, in the jungles and mountains, and uses covertly border areas of neutral countries. One cannot measure progress by lines on a map. We therefore have to use other means to chart progress. Several indices clearly point to steady and encouraging success. As an example:

Two years ago the Republic of Vietnam had fewer than 30 combat-ready battalions. Today it has 154.

Then there were three jet-capable runways in South Vietnam. Today there are 14.

After rattling off a bunch more such stats designed to show progress, Westmoreland continued by highlighting the need to show the enemy our resolve and by praising the military as being at its best in the nation's history:

As I have said before, in evaluating the enemy strategy it is evident to me that he elieves our Achilles' heel is our resolve. Your continued strong support is vital to the success of our mission..

Our soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, and coastguardsmen are the finest ever fielded by our Nation....Those men understand the conflict and their complex roles as fighters and as builders. They believe in what they are doing. They are determined to provide the shield of security behind which the Republic of Vietnam can develop and prosper for its own sake and for the future and freedom of all Southeast Asia.

Backed at home by resolve, confidence, patience, determination, and continued support, we will prevail in Vietnam over the Communist aggressor.

Here's a chart of American deaths in Vietnam:

Year	American Deaths
1956-1960	9
1961	16
1962	52
1963	118
1964	206
1965	1,863
1966	6,143
1967	11,153
1968	16,592
1969	11,616
1970	6,081
1971	2,357
1972	641
1973	168
1974	178
1975	161

In the seven or so years between Westmoreland's speech and the end of the war, over 35,000 Americans died in Vietnam.

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