The Longest War: CIA, the Order-of-Battle Controversy, and the Tet
Offensive

From the Webmaster:

(EXCERPT) If SD [Viet Cong Self-Defense forces] and SSD [VC Secret
Self-Defense forces] are included in the overall enemy strength, the
figure will total 420,000 to 431,000. . . . This is in sharp contrast
to the current overall strength figure of about 299,000 given to the
press here. . . . We have been projecting an image of success over the
recent months. . . . Now, when we release the figure of
420,000-431,000, the newsmen will . . . [draw] an erroneous and gloomy
conclusion as to the meaning of the increase. . . . In our view the
strength figures for the SD and SSD should be omitted entirely from
the enemy strength figures in the forthco ...

http://www.odci.gov/csi/books/vietnam/epis3.html

---------------------------
Otis Willie
Associate Librarian
The American War Library
http://www.americanwarlibrary.com