LINEBACKER II – VICTORIOUS AIR OPERATION IN A LOST WAR • LESSONS LEARNED –
LINEBACKER II – VICTORIOUS AIR OPERATION IN A LOST WAR • LESSONS LEARNED –
Author(s): Radu UngureanuContributor(s): Iulia NASTASIE (Translator)
Subject(s): Military history, Studies in violence and power, Post-War period (1950 - 1989), Peace and Conflict Studies
Published by: Centrul tehnic-editorial al armatei
Keywords: air strikes; political guidelines; lines of communications; combat formations;
Summary/Abstract: On 18 December 1972, President Nixon decided to launch operation LINEBACKER II, with the purpose of intimidating North Vietnam and guaranteeing the US full support for South Vietnam in this conflict. As the author writes, in the 11 days of devastating air strikes, Hanoi was forced to sign a ceasefire agreement with the USA, while the North Vietnamese were allowed to maintain under control vast territories of South Vietnam. The USA thus obtained enough time to withdraw troops and release war prisoners. The USA promised South Vietnam that it would intervene in the conflict in the event of a failure of the agreement. Because of the Watergate scandal, the Nixon Administration lost the support of Congress and was unable to honour the promise made to South Vietnam.
Journal: Romanian Military Thinking
- Issue Year: 2012
- Issue No: 3
- Page Range: 168-182
- Page Count: 15
- Language: English
