"If it were not for the fact that Vietnam is but a pawn in the larger East-West confrontation, and that our presence here is essential to deny the resources of this area to Communist China, then it would be damned hard to justify our support of the existing government. There is a revolution going on in this country -- and the principles, goals, and desires of the _other_ side are much closer to what Americans believe in than those of GVN [the Saigon Government]. I realize that ultimately, when the Chinese brand of Communism takes over, that these "revolutionaries" are going to be sadly disappointed -- but then it will be too late -- for them, and too late for us to win them. I AM CONVINCED THAT, EVEN THOUGH THE NATIONAL LIBERATION FRONT IS COMMUNIST-DOMINATED, THAT THE GREAT MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE SUPPORTING IT ARE DOING SO BECAUSE IT IS THEIR ONLY HOPE TO CHANGE AND IMPROVE THEIR LIVING CONDITIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES. IF I WERE A LAD OF EIGHTEEN FACED WITH THE SAME CHOICE -- WHETHER TO SUPPORT THE GVN OR THE NLF -- AND A MEMBER OF A RURAL COMMUNITY, I WOULD SURELY CHOOSE THE NLF." -- John Paul Vann to General York, May 1965; quoted in Neil Sheehan, _A Bright Shining Lie_, p. 524 (emphasis added, GF). "Robert McNamara sent the manuscript [of an article by Jonathan Schell -- GF] straight to Bunker. The ambassador showed it to Westmoreland and, with the general's consent, ordered a secret inquiry. 'The descriptions of destruction by the author are overdrawn but not to such a degree as to discredit his statements. ... Mr Schell's estimates [ of heavy civilian casualties resulting from American military action] are substantially correct,' the report of the investigation said. 'There are some very important political and military reasons for the scope of the destruction in this area,' the report continued. 'The population is totally hostile towards the GVN and is probably nearly in complete sympathy with the NLF movement.' The Viet Cong also refused to accept American rules and insisted on fortifying hamlets and organizing the entire population to resist. 'For the Viet Cong there isn't any distinction; the Viet Cong ARE the people.' (The emphasis is in the original report.)." Sheehan, _A Bright Shining Lie_, p. 688.