18th July 2009, 11:32 AM
More specifically, he made this statement during the Tet Offensive, which was a massive military defeat for North Vietnam, yet was misconstrued by Cronkite to be a defeat for American and ARVN forces. It was, at best, entirely inaccurate given the situation, at worst, a case of a journalist unethically grinding a political ax.
The main reason the war became 'unwinnable' was because of misinformation eroding popular support for the war. Militarily, the North's only strength was numbers. Had the war been prosecuted to the fullest, there is little doubt we would have emerged the victors.
Whether or not you want to argue that the war was ever necessary is one thing. I personally don't think it was. But, I definitely do think it was winnable, and I think it was deplorable for Cronkite to cause an alteration to national policy as he did. A journalist reports the news. He does not create it.
The main reason the war became 'unwinnable' was because of misinformation eroding popular support for the war. Militarily, the North's only strength was numbers. Had the war been prosecuted to the fullest, there is little doubt we would have emerged the victors.
Whether or not you want to argue that the war was ever necessary is one thing. I personally don't think it was. But, I definitely do think it was winnable, and I think it was deplorable for Cronkite to cause an alteration to national policy as he did. A journalist reports the news. He does not create it.
YOU CANNOT HIDE FOREVER
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WE STAND AT THE DOOR