Vietnam: Reconsidering Civil-Military Relations

• In Event: Civil-Military Relations and US Foreign Policy

Abstract

U.S. civil-military relations during the Vietnam War period are referred to as the touchstone for a dysfunctional relationship. For some, they represent the nadir of objective control dynamics, with concomitant negative results on the battlefield: for more than two decades HR McMaster's rendition of this story was see as representative of the ethos of the modern officer. For others, such as Eliot Cohen, greater intelligent civilian interference and a more subjective control dynamic might have saved the day. I argue that the first story is inaccurate and overblown, while the second is incomplete. Civil-military relations were robust, interactions were intense and continual, and sufficient mutual respect prevailed. Analysis, however, and knowledge of the relevant region, country, conflict, and enemy, were lacking. More importantly, civilian control was never communicated effectively to the military. The story is more complicated than the objective-subjective control dichotomy. In the end, iron-fisted civilian control prevented a worse outcome than might have occurred.

Author

• John F Garofano, U.S. Naval War College