An End to Inertia

In any war, it takes time to convert to forward motion the inertia that follows a massive buildup of arms. Last week the vast engine of military power that the U.S. has installed in South Viet Nam was finally warming to its task. A new air of confidence pervaded the week's decisions, a new professionalism was apparent as American forces deployed from the Delta to Danang on air strikes and ambushes, perimeter sweeps and bold airborne swoops. No longer were the Americans at Bien Hoa merely probing their own backyard. Last week, in little more than 24 hours, a full brigade was airlifted 250 miles to the Central Highlands to play a critical role in the relief of beleaguered Due Co (see below). Even as 2,800 new U.S. marines arrived in the enclaves along the Vietnamese coast, other marines were experimenting with new techniques of vertical envelopment in the darkness around Danang. More Americans were on the way as the roster grew past 90,000 toward the 125,000-man force scheduled for Viet Nam service. And South Korea was preparing to send 15,000 troops of its own to join the battle. Despite the summer monsoon, U.S. planes last month flew a record 2,000 combat missions a week, pushing the Viet Cong off balance. The despair of earlier months was fading as the great war engine revved up.

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