Speech #920054936

I thank the Senator for his comments because I believe he would agree with me that when we consider we have a ratio of firepower to our adversary of about 500toI. and when we consider the number of troops and bombs we have dropped on various parts of Indochina. it works out to be about 160 pounds for every man. woman. and child there. When we also consider the fact that we have in one operation at Lam Son 719the invasion into Laos151.837 air sorties. just in that one operation. it is apparent that the refugees and the casualties that result from bombings have a distinct relationship to the overall military policy that we follow. I am sure the Senator would also agree that when we consider we had only about 40.000 troops in Vietnam in February 1965. when we started the bombing of North Vietnam. even when we are told that the troops will be withdrawn by a certain date. whatever that might be. that does not say that we will stop the bombing or that civilian casualties will cease. because as the Senator from Massachusetts knows. we have very important air power in Thailandas well as the 7th Fleetthat is used in action over Vietnam or Laos or Cambodia. So it does not take thousands and thousands of ground troops to maintain a bombing policy. The Senator has commented today on the matter of refugees and casualties and the other comments he has made. They certainly focus attention upon the moral implications of this war. I cannot conceive why the Pentagon would say it is so unimportant that they have no record of civilian casualties.