Tonkin Gulf Cover Up Finally Set Straight

The murky events in the Gulf of Tonkin in August 1964 propelled the United States into the Vietnam War. Over three days, the U.S. government reported two attacks on its destroyers. The first assault by North Vietnamese PT boats on August 2 provoked only a protest from Washington. On the cloudy night of August 4, two U.S. ships detected another apparent ambush. They fired their guns in response, claiming to have sunk several enemy boats. The incident prompted Lyndon Johnson to order airstrikes and obtain what amounted to a declaration of war from Congress.

Now, a newly declassified NSA study--and over 140 formerly top secret intelligence reports--confirm just how wrong McNamara was. Indeed, the 55-page report by NSA historian Robert Hanyok effectively rewrites the history of this pivotal event. Hanyok proves not only that there never was a second attack but that the NSA had plenty of contradictory evidence that was actively suppressed. "The overwhelming body of reports, if used, would have told the story that no attack had happened," Hanyok concludes. "So a conscious effort ensued to demonstrate that the attack occurred."

Hanyok concludes officials "deliberately skewed" intelligence to support the claim of a second attack. But he blames lower-level NSA analysts, not senior political leaders. "The conspiracy was always believed to be that President Johnson and Secretary McNamara basically manipulated the intelligence . . ." says intelligence historian Matthew Aid. "Now, we know the mistakes and conspiracy were widespread but at a midlevel." Still, the Johnson administration set the climate. For one thing, there was intense White House pressure to confirm the attack to clear the way for immediate retaliation. Hanyok quotes Ray Cline, the
CIA's deputy director for intelligence at the time: "We knew it was bum dope that we were getting . . . but we were told only to give the facts with no elaboration on the nature of the evidence. [Johnson] did not like to deal with uncertainties."
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In August 1964, Stockdale's squadron played a role in the Gulf of Tonkin incident, which involved North Vietnamese attacks on U.S. naval vessels. The Johnson Administration invoked these occurrences to justify a massive American military response. Interestingly, Stockdale always maintained that during the Incident's key "engagement," he saw no enemy vessels. In his words, "I flew so low there was salt spray on the windshield, and I still didn't see a thing!" But the die was cast. The next morning, he was ordered to lead a raid on North Vietnamese oil refineries. America -- and Jim Stockdale -- were at war.

biography

Once I read Jim Stockdale's book "In Love and War", the story of his storied life, including the events of that fateful day, I couldn't help be inspired to write a screenplay faithful to reaccounts. It was only after I finished the screenplay last year that I found out there had been a made for TV drama made based on the same book back in 1986 starring James Woods. I feel the story desearves the big screen treatment. You can upload my screenplay here, enjoy.

Click here to read 'In Love And War-The Jim Stockdale Story'

Later,
Kenaz