An excellent and insightful work filled with wisdom about how presidents since Nixon have tried to sell their foreign policies to an often skeptical public.

This book has been an absolute bible to me in my study of the Antiwar Movement of the Vietnam Era. For anybody studying this period of history, it is of intrinsic value. It details every aspect of the antiwar movement, the cause and consequence of it and lots of other relevant material. Nearly every other modern study of this nature draws a lot from this book. Although DeBenedetti's untimely death leaves the book with a rather ragged finish, its objective analysis is perfect for any historian or student wishing to study the antiwar movement in depth.

This book taking the political psychology approach analyse the events that led President Johnson to escalate U.S. involvement during the Vietnam War. Using "cold cognition -analogical reasoning", Khong explains with precision the decision-making process, why President Johnson increased U.S. participation in the Vietnam War but also the form it took during the few months in 1965.

In terms of methodology, Khong make good use of interviews with participants of the decision-making process, in particular, George Ball and also memoirs of former statesmen for his analysis.

The strength of the book lies in explaining how the option to escalate the war in Vietnam was arrived; through analogical reasoning by various participants of the decision-making process. Secondly, the form it took: the "slow squeeze" or incrementalism based on the last "lesson of history" of U.S. involvement in Korea. In short, Khong utilising the process tracing method, clearly links the decision- making process to the implementation/outcome of U.S. foreign policy.

The weakness of the book is not that it does not consider other views why the U.S. was drawn into the Vietnam owing to "containment", "domino-theory" and U.S. credibility. Rather the author misses out on possible "reconciliation" between the analogical reasoning approach with that of the U.S. national interest approach.

Nevertheless, a must read for those interested in other approaches to explain why U.S. escalated it's involvement in Vietnam apart from the "realist" paradigm and those interested in decision-making processes!

Stunnning work! Great factual basis for anyone wishing to research the French Vietnam War.

Truly a superb and important work!
This book should be read not only by all those interested in military history and the Vietnam war, but particularly by those interested in understanding better the circumstances facing the United States and its allies today in the war on terrorism. Hamilton's insights on insurgent organizations, terror cells, and strategic design in historical context, can be well applied by policy makers today in understanding the depth of problems now being faced. Lessons learned then would not need to be repeated as mistakes today. This book is not overwhelming in repetitious fact finding, and Hamilton's minimalist writing style is appreciated. Academics will also enjoy the marvelous research and constructed bibliography. Recommended to all readers interested in like subjects related to contemporary military strategic thought and history, and to government officials of the highest rank.

A book of recollections of Australian (and a couple of others) vertrans of the Vietnam War. This book has tales covering everything about the Vietnam War, from the feelings before leaving home, to fighting in the jungle, to returning home after a tour of duty.

Emotional, educational and depressingly realistic. The memories here will make you laugh and most certainly make you cry.

A must for all history buffs, and for anyone with a desire to gain an insight to the events in Vietnam.

A fine work that accurately and truthfully talks about and displays the truth about the Phoenix Program. The author obviously spent a great deal of time on thorough research with operatives who were actually there. This book shows Phoenix for what it was, an effective grass roots campaign to root out and capture the Viet Cong Infrastructure.

Most other books I've seen on the subject have largely been the delusional fantasies of wannabes who were never there. The types who clog VA centers claiming PTSD for top secret commando missions they were never on. This book only interviewed real Phoenix operatives.

Hats off to Mr. Andrade. Job well done.

The failed American military involvement in Laos presents a tough target for any researcher, but Dr. Castle successfully negotiates the obstacle course to gain access to and declassify critical documents which form the foundation for this valuable look back on an episode in danger of being forgotten. Well-documented interviews with key players of the time fill in many but not all of the gaps. Those readers more interested in the personal impact on the families of those lost in action during this failed campaign will find Castle's follow-on book "One Day Too Long" a more direct fit to their needs.

George Mariscal has done a wonderful job collecting information by Chicano and Chicana writers -- both Vietnam veterans, and anti-war activists -- who share emotions, insights, and experiences about the Chicano community's involvement in the war. So little has been written about the Vietnam war and the Chicano(a) experience. As a community college teacher, I assigned my own book, Shifting Loyalties, to the class. Shifting Loyalties also deals with Chicanos in Vietnam. I remember a Vietnamese student saying, "I didn't know there were Mexicans fighting in Vietnam." His statement reminded me how sad it is that the Chicano community has given so much for this country, including the lives of our men and women, and still, there is relatively little recognition for our efforts. George Mariscal's book does much to remedy this situation. He has compiled a strong representation of poetry, short stories, interviews, and essays. His own narrative moves the work along in a way that makes the entire book act as if it were one piece. Any teachers, students, or persons interested in the Vietnam war from an entirely new and fresh perspective must buy this book.

I will be honest and start by saying that I am not a wonder with words. I feel, though, that I must say this is one of the best books I have ever read in my life. I received a copy from my stepfather, who was a friend of Mr. Stephen's, when I was about 15 (maybe younger). I have read the book numerous times and enjoy it more with each reading. It is so full of life and detail. The war comes to life right before your very eyes. Mr. Stephen's account of friendships gained and those lost will forever be engraved in my mind. This is truly a wonderful work.