What is a good source for information about the "Gulf of Tonkin" incident?

TIA

He actually received the cables coming into the Pentagon at the time of the incident.

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

Go to www.yahoo.com and type in "Gulf of Tonkin incident" and hit <search>. ;-)

I've read it twice. Very comprehensive breakdown.

History keeps on repeating itself. Remember the Maine. Remember the Maddox. Remember 9-11...

An excellent online overview:

Media Beat, July 27, 1994

30-Year Anniversary: Tonkin Gulf Lie Launched Vietnam War

By Jeff Cohen and Norman Solomon

Thirty years ago, it all seemed very clear.

"American Planes Hit North Vietnam After Second Attack on Our Destroyers; Move Taken to Halt New Aggression", announced a Washington Post headline on Aug. 5, 1964.

That same day, the front page of the New York Times reported: "President Johnson has ordered retaliatory action against gunboats and 'certain supporting facilities in North Vietnam' after renewed attacks against American destroyers in the Gulf of Tonkin."

But there was no "second attack" by North Vietnam -- no "renewed attacks against American destroyers." By reporting official claims as absolute truths, American journalism opened the floodgates for the bloody Vietnam War.

CONTINUED ON THE BIG LIE...

http://www.fair.org/media-beat/940727.html

BTW: Here's an excellent compendium that lists authors and their works:

http://www.deanza.edu/faculty/swensson/decillis_index.html

who had a ringside seat to the whole debacle.

You can read all about it from his book "In Love And War"
The book's available in most libraries and bookstores.
It's all in Chapter One.

His name: James B. Stockdale, ViceAdm USN (Ret.) He was commander of the Crusader fighter squadron VF-51 in August 1964 off the USS
Ticonderoga that actually witnessed what happened, and the subsequent bombing raid the next day.

Basically, he says that what happened out there in the Tonkin Gulf was much ado about almost nothing. And he was verrrry upset over LBJ's decision to go bomb the North Vietnam coast the next day as "retaliation".

Over a year later, as wing commander on the USS Oriskany, Stockdale was shot down and captured. He was a POW in Hanoi's prison system from September 1965 to February 1974; and eventually the senior Navy POW of them all. He was later decorated with the Medal of Honor for leadership of said POWs and for a particular incident in which he attempted suicide rather than take part in a propaganda stunt.

All the while, he kept his mouth shut about his role in the Gulf of Tonkin incident.

:bounce:

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