The Pentagon Papers

This is an amazing book to read for insight to a time that I have only heard stories about from my parents. Loved learning the history and insight for sure!

Perfect, precise and accurate narrative of the greatest blunder of the Cold War , that dragged 58.000 lives , wasted in a war that had no reason, even many still say they were "fighting for freedom" , when actually they were pones of an empty political game that, at the end, worth nothing...sad

We all know the existence of the "Pentagon Papers" but I suspect not many of us have had a look through them.It generally shows that successive administrations from the end of WW2 through much of the Pres. Johnson years felt compelled to do something about indo china becoming communist. They all had grave doubts on how to go about it. It seems that US Policy was built more on hope and the need to do something, than on a realistic outcome?This material is often dry to read through (as the original documents are presented) but should be required reading for anyone who wants to get a better understanding of those years. Also required reading for any aspiring national politician of any country.

I will not add to the plethora of positive reviews here at Amazon. Yes, the book is thick (Over 700 pages), and it certainly does not make casual or "light" reading. However, the "Pentagon Papers" are, without doubt, one of the greatest journalistic triumphs of the 20th century. The reader is given a detailed, incredibly intimate summary of how policy makers in Washington decided to get the US involved in Vietnam, tracing the story from the mid-1950s through the Tet Offensive of 1968. In short, the US found itself involved in Vietnam for the following combination of reasons: A severe case of post-WWII "We-are-the-Victors" hubris, a terminal view of the world in "Either-Or / Us-versus-Them" terms, a firm belief in placing military solutions above diplomatic & economic alternatives, a blind faith in "experts" (In this case, Ivy League academics and Generals in the Pentagon), and last (But certainly not least), the mere fact that we, the USA, had the wealth, material means, and financial wherewithal to do so..................

Brilliant for A level coursework but make sure you allocate enlightened to read it