Pierre Asselin

But then to help maintain the secrecy of those meetings, Nixon and Kissinger and leaders in Hanoi will agree to keep the semi-public channel going. In the semi-public negotiations, all four parties are represented. The Americans are there, the North Vietnamese are there, Saigon is there, and the Viet Cong is there. But in the secret channel, it's just the Americans and the North Vietnamese.

But then to help maintain the secrecy of those meetings, Nixon and Kissinger and leaders in Hanoi will agree to keep the semi-public channel going. In the semi-public negotiations, all four parties are represented. The Americans are there, the North Vietnamese are there, Saigon is there, and the Viet Cong is there. But in the secret channel, it's just the Americans and the North Vietnamese.

But then to help maintain the secrecy of those meetings, Nixon and Kissinger and leaders in Hanoi will agree to keep the semi-public channel going. In the semi-public negotiations, all four parties are represented. The Americans are there, the North Vietnamese are there, Saigon is there, and the Viet Cong is there. But in the secret channel, it's just the Americans and the North Vietnamese.

What's interesting in the secret channel is that it's an American-North Vietnamese negotiation. And essentially, the main party to the war in the South, the government in Saigon, is not part of those talks. It's not even informed about the existence of the talks, much less their substance.

What's interesting in the secret channel is that it's an American-North Vietnamese negotiation. And essentially, the main party to the war in the South, the government in Saigon, is not part of those talks. It's not even informed about the existence of the talks, much less their substance.

What's interesting in the secret channel is that it's an American-North Vietnamese negotiation. And essentially, the main party to the war in the South, the government in Saigon, is not part of those talks. It's not even informed about the existence of the talks, much less their substance.

So when we talk about the North Vietnamese, we're talking about the leaders of Northern Vietnam, officially the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, ensconced in Hanoi. They're really the masterminds, if you will, of the anti-American, anti-South Vietnamese effort, right? They are the guys in charge of...

So when we talk about the North Vietnamese, we're talking about the leaders of Northern Vietnam, officially the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, ensconced in Hanoi. They're really the masterminds, if you will, of the anti-American, anti-South Vietnamese effort, right? They are the guys in charge of...

So when we talk about the North Vietnamese, we're talking about the leaders of Northern Vietnam, officially the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, ensconced in Hanoi. They're really the masterminds, if you will, of the anti-American, anti-South Vietnamese effort, right? They are the guys in charge of...

The People's Army of Vietnam, what we call the North Vietnamese Army, the NVA, those professional soldiers who come down the Ho Chi Minh Trail to take on South Vietnamese, American, and other allied forces in the South who were extremely well-equipped and trained. Now, when we talk about the Viet Cong, we're talking about indigenous Southerners, people in the South.

The People's Army of Vietnam, what we call the North Vietnamese Army, the NVA, those professional soldiers who come down the Ho Chi Minh Trail to take on South Vietnamese, American, and other allied forces in the South who were extremely well-equipped and trained. Now, when we talk about the Viet Cong, we're talking about indigenous Southerners, people in the South.

The People's Army of Vietnam, what we call the North Vietnamese Army, the NVA, those professional soldiers who come down the Ho Chi Minh Trail to take on South Vietnamese, American, and other allied forces in the South who were extremely well-equipped and trained. Now, when we talk about the Viet Cong, we're talking about indigenous Southerners, people in the South.

who will join the anti-Saigon, anti-American crusade as part of an organization known as the National Front for the Liberation of Southern Vietnam, which is presumably autonomous, independent, and southern, but which we now know was in fact controlled and established by Hanoi. So when it comes to all major decisions,

who will join the anti-Saigon, anti-American crusade as part of an organization known as the National Front for the Liberation of Southern Vietnam, which is presumably autonomous, independent, and southern, but which we now know was in fact controlled and established by Hanoi. So when it comes to all major decisions,

who will join the anti-Saigon, anti-American crusade as part of an organization known as the National Front for the Liberation of Southern Vietnam, which is presumably autonomous, independent, and southern, but which we now know was in fact controlled and established by Hanoi. So when it comes to all major decisions,

It's really basically Le Xuan and two or three of his advisors in Hanoi who make those calls. And then the Viet Cong will essentially follow. So publicly, again, right, as part of its effort to control the narrative of the war, Hanoi will claim that the Viet Cong is this popular indigenous front that merely seeks emancipation from the evil Americans and their South Vietnamese abettors.

It's really basically Le Xuan and two or three of his advisors in Hanoi who make those calls. And then the Viet Cong will essentially follow. So publicly, again, right, as part of its effort to control the narrative of the war, Hanoi will claim that the Viet Cong is this popular indigenous front that merely seeks emancipation from the evil Americans and their South Vietnamese abettors.

It's really basically Le Xuan and two or three of his advisors in Hanoi who make those calls. And then the Viet Cong will essentially follow. So publicly, again, right, as part of its effort to control the narrative of the war, Hanoi will claim that the Viet Cong is this popular indigenous front that merely seeks emancipation from the evil Americans and their South Vietnamese abettors.

But in reality, it's an instrument used by Hanoi essentially to facilitate the mobilization of the South Vietnamese masses and recruit fighters among them.

But in reality, it's an instrument used by Hanoi essentially to facilitate the mobilization of the South Vietnamese masses and recruit fighters among them.