New confirmation that Washington is using the Paris negotiations as a cover for stepping up combat activity in South Vietnam comes from Washington journalist I.F. Stone in his informative NEWSLETTER. Stone estimates that more than 2,000 GIs have lost their lives in escalated U.S. bombing of the North.
In an analysis of ground combat operations in South Vietnam, Stone concludes that the "tempo of offensive operations from our side has gone up about 25 per cent in December over November. Both U.S. and Saigon battalion-sized operations increased during that period."
Stone believes that the "escalation" of U.S. combat activity in South Vietnam was [illegible] to "military calculations connected with the bombing of North Vietnam. This, Stone says, allowed Washington to move considerable forces from the Northern part of South Vietnam where they had been on guard against a possible invasion from the De-Militarised Zone. These forces have been moved south for 'pacification' operations in the Mekong Delta.
"The bombing of the North ended on November 1st. The escalation from our side began at the same time. In the three months since, more than 2,000 Americans have lost their lives."
Stone also warns his readers not to take refuge in the idea that the change-over of administrations will make any difference. He calls attention to the statement President Nixon made in his first press conference that "it is not helpful in discussing Vietnam to use such terms as 'cease-fire'."
"Until the bombing pause," Stone declares, "the U.S. official line was to call for a cease-fire as the price of a bombing halt. The line has changed because we hope to exploit the present situation by 'clean-up' operations against guerillas in the South."
Stone cites the weekly AP casualty dispatch from January 21st to describe the nature of U.S. combat operations: "There has been no sustained large-scale fighting since last fall... thousands of U.S. and government troops carry out daily operations in search of an elusive enemy... pushes are also being made into areas long held by the Vietcong, and in these, even when no opposition is encountered, there are casualties from mines and booby traps."
He concludes, "Neither the U.S. military nor the Saigon regime ever wanted to negotiate. The Paris talks for them only make it easier to continue the war."