Watching the news last night we heard a report stating that a memo had
been found from John Kennedy, proving that he was planning on removing American
troops from Vietnam. Some years ago President Kennedy told us he was
planning an all-out invasion of North Vietnam called Operation Broadsword.
The two stories did not seem to match, so I sent my Agent to ask Kennedy
what this news was all about. His answer was simple, and to the point.
"Oh, we had to be prepared for all contingencies. As we were setting
our plans into operation trying to gather support we also had to prepare
for the possibility that those plans would not bear fruit, and we would
be forced to withdraw.
It is a foolish Commander that does not have all operations prepared,
and, too, the circulation of such a memo would serve to confuse an enemy,
make him think you were unprepared for aggressive action. This memo
served many purposes, far more than its stated one."
My Worker thanked President Kennedy for his comments and returned them
to me. We do, also.
"Our hero is a man of peace,
Preparedness he implores.
His sword within its scabbard sleeps,
But mercy, how it snores!"
-McLandburgh Wilson
From; "Theodore Roosevelt"