In 1963JFK faced a dilema over Vietnam. See John Newman's book JFK & VIETNAM, in which he lays out a good argument that Kennedy was contemplating withdrawal after re-election in '64 [he actually announced a 1,000 troop withdrawal in October 1963], but wouldn't hand Republicans an issue that could lead to his defeat, and of course, continuation of the war.
Also Newman explores the duplicity of LBJ, whom it appears the military and CIA were schooling with correct info on how bad the war was going for the West, whereas they were attempting to feed JFK misinformation that the war was winnable.
Newman's second book on Lee Harvey Oswald in Mexico City in October 1963, indicates that a plot was
afoot to eliminate JFK once the establishment realized he was not buying their line of a winnable war.
Of course, the deed was done 38 years ago tomorrow.
See also Michael Beschloss books on tape recordings of both JFK and LBJ, Oliver Stone's film JFK, and KILL RADIO- IMC program on US imperialism history webcast Monday November 12.
JFK seemed to be leaning toward limiting the role of the US as an imperial power [in a June 1963 address to American University students, which Radio Moscow later broadcast, an almost umprecidented occurance in the midst of the cold war, Kennedy said "We seek not a 'Pax Americana'"]. LBJ, on the other hand, tragically aquiessed to the military/industrial lobbyists for a wider Vietnam war.
These same issues of the extent of US empire confront us now 38 years later with regard to our role in the Middle East and Afghanistan.
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