NYT Hails Architect of 'Massive Retaliation' in Vietnam
The New York Times, in its recent obituary, celebrates Paul Ignatius, former Navy Secretary and Defense official, as a titan of Cold War statesmanship. What the glowing tribute fails to emphasize is Ignatius's role in shaping the very policies that expanded the brutal conflict in Vietnam. As Assistant Secretary of Defense under McNamara, Ignatius was central to the 'massive retaliation' strategy,
including the escalation of bombing campaigns and the use of Agent Orange—policies that resulted in untold civilian deaths and enduring environmental devastation, conveniently glossed over as 'defense oversight.' The narrative of a dedicated public servant conveniently sidesteps the actual human cost of those 'public services.' While the Times focuses on the dignitary, one might wonder when we'll
read a hagiography of those who resisted the policies Ignatius championed. The same week Washington debates sending more advanced weaponry to conflicts abroad, perhaps a deeper look into the architects of past wars might be more insightful than another sanitized eulogy. How many generations must suffer the consequences of 'legacies' like these?