Mark Moyar

the war strategy.

And one thing we haven't talked about yet is Robert McNamara had what he called the strategy of gradual escalation.

And his skin goes back to these game theories that he's pulled from academia.

But he argues that when we start bombing North Vietnam in early 1965, we should start off at a low level and build up gradually.

And that's part of our plan to communicate our intent and also to limit our risk.

Now, the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the same time, this also comes on Pentagon Papers, the Joint Chiefs of Staff are saying, that's crazy.

Let's hit them hard right away.

And so and clearly the strategy of gradual escalation doesn't work.

And in fact, what happens is it gives the North Vietnamese time to build up their anti-aircraft defenses.

So you have a lot of strategic incompetence being exposed here in the Pentagon Papers.

I think a lot of it's been exaggerated.

Probably some truth to it.

I mean, a lot of the drugs taking place are just taking place within that theater.

They're not going back and forth necessarily with the United States.

I mean, it does get a little murky when the U.S.

is supporting various groups in Laos and Cambodia that are also involved in the drug trade.

And so it sometimes looks like

The U.S.

is supporting them.

A lot of that's the CIA side of it still.