Bossism Derailed

October 20, 1973 For Lajpat Rai, the Paris Agreement is a victory for Nixon .since it helps to consolidate the military power of Nixon's puppets in Saigon and to get back all the captured US military personnel. Lajpat Raj, relies for his observations on an article published in Vietnam Courier. But he conveniently forgets that the article in question (September 1972) referred to the situation arising out of the total rejection of the seven-point proposal of the PRG by the US, But when the US, at the Paris negotiations, changed its position and showed its willingness to recognise the PRG administration along with the administration in Saigon, room for negotiations was created. That is why tor DRV and the PRG did not insist on their earlier stand regarding the Saigon administration. The recognition of the PRG by the US, coupled with the firm commitment that it would withdraw all its forces from Vietnam, dismantle its military bases and allow the South Vietnamese to exereise their right of sell-determination, is a victory for the Vietnamese liberation struggle. If Nixon could get his POWs back to the US and continue his support to the puppet regime in Saigon, that WAS but a relatively small advantage compared to what he had to give up. The main reason why Nixon could secure his ie- electiou was the fact that people in the US were tired of the war in Vietnam and as the Newstreek special report remarked, "Americans had long himgei- ed for a quick end to US involvement in war and an equally speedy return of POW's and they got it.