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Mo^.t quan ddie^?m mo+'i ve^` vu. dda?o cha'nh tha'ng 11, 1963
THAM LUA^.N
Mo^.t quan ddie^?m mo+'i ve^` vu. dda?o cha'nh tha'ng 11, 1963:
To^n Tha^'t Thie^.n
Lo+`i gio+'i thie^.u: Du+o+'i dda^y la` ba?n tha^u nga('n ba`i ddie^?m
mo^.t so^' ta'c pha^?m mo+'i nha^'t lie^n quan dde^'n vu. dda?o cha'nh
tha'ng 11, 1963 cu?a Gia'o su+ To^n Tha^'t Thie^.n dda(ng tre^n so^'
Mu`a ddo^ng (tha'ng 12) 1998 cu?a ta.p chi' World Affairs (Va^'n dde^`
quo^'c te^'), mo^.t ta.p chi' lo+'n xua^'t ba?n o? Delhi, A^'n DDo^..
Ba?n tha^u nga('n na`y do chi'nh Gia'o su+ Thie^.n chuye^?n ngu+~ tu+`
tie^'ng Anh ra tie^'ng Vie^.t.
Ba`i ddie^?m sa'ch no'i tre^n giu'p cho chu'ng ta bie^'t dde^'n nhu+~ng
ta`i lie^.u chi'nh xa'c lie^n quan dde^'n cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh tha'ng 11
na(m 1963, tu+` ddo' chu'ng ta co' the^? hie^?u ddu+o+.c ta.i sao
To^?ng Tho^'ng Ngo^ DDi`nh Die^.m va` o^ng Co^' Va^'n Ngo^ DDi`nh Nhu
pha?i bi. gie^'t. Nhu+~ng sa'ch ma` ta'c gia? ddie^?m dde^`u do mo^.t
so^' ho.c gia? ddu+'ng dda('n vie^'t, ca(n cu+' va`o nhu+~ng ta`i
lie^.u mo+'i ddu+o+.c tie^'t lo^..
Trong ba`i na`y, ta'c gia? dda~ chu' tro.ng nhie^`u dde^'n ta'c pha^?m
"Lodge in Vietnam: A Patriot Abroad" cu?a Ba` Anne Blair, trong ddo' ba`
dda~ nghie^n cu+'u kha' ky~ ve^` cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh tha'ng 11 na(m
1963. Na(m ngoa'i, Gia'o su+ To^n Tha^'t Thie^.n dda~ dde^` ca^.p
dde^'n ta'c pha^?m "The Year of the Hare" cu?a Gia'o su+ Winters trong
ba`i "A'nh sa'ng mo+'i ve^` cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh tha'ng 11/1963; ta^'t
ca? mo.i ngu+o+`i dde^`u la` na.n nha^n cu?a chi'nh tri. no^.i bo^.
Hoa Ky`", nhu+ng co`n mo^.t so^' khi'a ca.nh quan tro.ng trong ta'c
pha^?m na`y chu+a ddu+o+.c dde^` ca^.p dde^'n. Ba`i na`y se~ bo^? tu'c
the^m. Ke^'t lua^.n cu?a Gia'o su+ Winters va` ba` Anne Blair dde^`u
gio'ng nhau. Ba`i ru't nga('n du+o+'i dda^y co' the^? giu'p chu'ng ta
tha^'y ro~ ho+n vai tro` cu?a chi'nh phu? Hoa Ky` trong bie^'n co^'
tha'ng 11 na(m 1963.
***
Cho dde^'n ga^`n dda^y, co' ra^'t i't ta'c pha^?m la^'y cuo^.c dda?o
cha'nh tha'ng 11, 1963 do Hoa Ky` chu? mu+u la`m dde^` ta`i duy nha^'t
hay chi'nh ye^'u, va` ne^'u co', nhu+~ng ta'c pha^?m ddo' chi? nha('c
ddi nha('c la.i mo^.t so^' lo+`i sa'o va` huye^`n thoa.i du+.a tre^n
nhu+~ng tin tu+'c ro+`i ra.c va` kho^ng xa'c thu+.c. O^ng Die^.m
thu+o+`ng ddu+o+.c mo^ ta? nhu+ la` mo^.t ngu+o+`i chuye^n quye^`n
tha(?ng tay tra^'n a'p to^n gia'o, va` nga(n ca?n kho^ng cho Hoa Ky`
thu+.c hie^.n hai mu.c tie^u lo+'n cu?a ho. o+? Vie^.t Nam: 1/ bie^'n
Vie^.t Nam tha`nh mo^.t nu+o+'c da^n chu? kie^?u Hoa Ky`, va` 2/ dda'nh
ba.i co.ng sa?n. No'i to'm: O^ng Die^.m la` mo^.t ngu+o+`i ta'c qua'i.
Hi`nh a?nh na`y ke'o da`i ho+n ba chu.c na(m.
Tuy nhie^n cu~ng co' va`i ta'c pha^?m la^'y vu. dda?o cha'nh o^ng
Die^.m la`m dde^` ta`i duy nha^'t, hay chi'nh ye^'u, ma` kho^ng nha('c
la.i nhu+~ng lo+`i sa'o cu~ ri'ch, nhu+ng cu+'u xe't du+~ kie^.n mo^.t
ca'ch tha(?ng tha('n, ky~ lu+o+~ng, khie^'n ngu+o+`i ddo.c co' the^?
co' mo^.t pha'n xe't kha'ch quan, ca^n ddo^'i, va` co^ng ba(`ng. Trong
so^' na`y co' the^? ke^? nhu+~ng ta'c pha^?m sau dda^y: Kennedy in
Vietnam, A Prelude to War, American Vietnam Policy 1960-1963[1] cu?a
William Rust; A Death in November, America in Vietnam, 1963[2] cu?a
Ellen J.Hammer; Our Vietnam Nightmare[3] cu?a Marguerite Higgins; va`
dda(.c bie^.t la` hai ta'c pha^?m mo+'i nha^'t, The Year of the Hare,
America in Vietnam, January 25, 1963 - February 15, 1964[4] cu?a Gia'o
Su+ Francois Xavier Winters, va` Lodge in Vietnam, A Patriot Abroad[5]
cu?a Ba` Anne Blair, hai ta'c pha^?m la`m dde^` ta`i chi'nh cu?a ba`i
ddie^?m lua^.n na`y.
Ba ta'c pha^?m da^~n dda^`u lie^n quan ma^.t thie^'t dde^'n ba`i
ddie^?m-lua^.n na`y. Ta'c pha^?m cu?a Rust la` mo^.t da^~n nha^.p ra^'t
to^'t vi` no' sa^u sa('c, co' sao no'i va^.y, kho^ng thie^n le^.ch, va`
nhu+ va^.y la` ddu+a ra mo^.t ca'ch tie^'p ca^.n mo+i' me? ve^` va^'n
dde^`. Ta'c pha^?m cu?a Ba` Hammer ne^u ro~ bo^'i ca?nh va(n ho'a va`
xa~ ho^.i, ca^`n thie^'t dde^? am tu+o+`ng nhu+~ng ye^'u to^' chi
pho^'i chi'nh tri. Vie^.t Nam, mo^.t khi'a ca.nh cu?a va^'n dde^` ma`
i't vie^n chu+'c va` ky' gia? Hoa Ky` bie^'t dde^'n. Ta'c pha^?m cu?a
Ba` Higgins cung ca^'p tho^ng tin xa'c thu+.c la^'y tu+` go^'c ca(n cu+'
tre^n nhu+~ng cuo^c ddie^`u tra sa^u ro^.ng ta.i cho^~ cu?a mo^.t ky'
gia? la~o luye^.n.
Ba ta'c pha^?m tre^n dda^y la` bo^? tu'c ca^`n thie^'t cho su+u kha?o
cu?a Gia'o Su+ Winters va` Ba` Anne Blair, nhu+~ng su+u kha?o mang la.i
a'nh sa'ng mo+'i ve^` va^'n dde^` dda?o cha'nh.
A'nh sa'ng mo+'i chie^'u ro~ ra`ng va`o vu. dda?o cha'nh na(m 1963 se~
go'p pha^`n va`o su+. thay ddo^?i quan ddie^?m ve^` vu. na`y: Tu+` nay
kho^ng the^? coi O^ng Die^.m la` mo^.t ngu+o+`i ta'c qua'i, ma` pha?i
coi O^ng la` mo^.t na.n nha^n.
DDo' la` vi` nay nhu+~ng nha` kha?o cu+'u co' nhu+~ng ta`i lie^.u dda'ng
tin va` do^`i da`o ma` tru+o+'c 1992 kho^ng co'. DDo' la` nhu+~ng ta`i
lie^.u chi'nh thu+'c - phu'c tri`nh ki'n va` ma^.t, bie^n ba?n cu?a
nhu+~ng tha?o lua^.n no^.i bo^., ddie^.n va(n trao ddo^?i ha`ng nga`y,
ngay ca? ha`ng gio+`, giu+~a Kennedy va` chi'nh phu? Hoa Ky` o+?
Washington va` to`a DDa.i su+' Hoa Ky` o+? Sa`i-go`n - cho bie^'t
nhu+~ng gi` thu+.c su+. dda~ xa?y ra trong nhu+~ng tha'ng tru+o+'c va`
sau cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh trong tho+`i gian 1963-1964.
Nhu+~ng ta`i lie^.u tre^n dda^y dda~ ddu+o+.c Bo^. Ngoa.i Giao Hoa Ky`
gia?i ma^.t va` xua^'t ba?n tha`nh 5 ta^.p giu+~a 1988 va` 1992, vo+'i
ti't: Foreign Relations of the United States, 1961-1964. (FRUS,
1961-1964). (Bang giao quo^'c te^' cu?a Hoa Ky`, BGQTHK, 1961-1964).
Tha'ng 2 na(m 1994, bo^. General Records (Ho^` so+ to^?ng qua't) cu?a
Bo^. Ngoa.i Giao Hoa Ky` ve^` na(m 1963 cu~ng ddu+o+.c mo+? cho nha`
ho.c gia? kha?o cu+'u. Nhu+~ng ta`i lie^.u tre^n dda^y dda~ ddu+o+.c
Gia'o Su+ Winters cu+'u xe't ra^'t ky? ca`ng.
Co^ng tri`nh kha?o cu+'u cu?a Gia'o Su+ Winters ra^'t tu+o+`ng ta^.n,
ra^'t sa'ng to?, va` co' le~ la` chi'nh xa'c nha^'t hie^.n nay ve^`
chi'nh sa'ch va` vai tro` cu?a Hoa Ky` trong tho+`i gian nghie^n cu+'u -
tu+` 25 tha'ng gie^ng na(m 1963 dde^'n 15 tha'ng 2 na(m 1964 - na(m con
Tho? theo ngu+o+`i Ta`u (va` con Me`o theo ngu+o+`i Vie^.t). Co^ng
tri`nh kha?o cu+'u na`y he^'t su+'c chi'nh xa'c vi` kho^ng nhu+~ng no'
ca(n cu+' tre^n nhu+~ng pho?ng va^'n sa^u ro^.ng nhu+~ng vie^n chu+'c
cao ca^'p cu?a chi'nh phu? Kennedy, ma` dda(.c bie^.t ca(n cu+' tre^n
mo^.t su+. cu+'u xe't ra^'t ty? my? nhu+~ng ta`i lie^.u ne^u tre^n.
Trong chu+o+ng Da^~n nha^.p Gia'o Su+ Winters gia?i thi'ch ra(`ng quan
ta^m chi'nh ve^` nghe^` nghie^.p cu?a o^ng la` mo^'i quan he^. giu+~a
dda.o ddu+'c va` chi'nh sa'ch ngoa.i giao. Chi'nh va^'n dde^` dda.o
ddu+'c trong cuo^.c chie^'n tranh Vie^.t Nam dda~ khie^'n o^ng ti`m
hie^?u "ddo^.ng lu+.c dda~ thu'c dda^?y Kennedy quye^'t ddi.nh la^.t
ddo^? o^ng Die^.m, va` ha^.u qua? cu?a quye^'t ddi.nh na`y ra sao"
Tro.ng ta^m cu?a co^ng tri`nh kha?o cu+'u cu?a Gia'o Su+ Winters la`
"xe't ddi.nh ve^` phu+o+ng die^.n dda.o ddu+'c tra'ch nhie^.m cu?a Hoa
Ky` trong vie^.c kho+?i ddo^.ng va` ke^'t qua? cu?a cuo^.c chie^'n
tranh Vie^.t Nam". Su+. cu+'u xe't na`y dda~ khie^'n Gia'o Su+ Winters
xe't la.i chi'nh sa'ch cu?a chi'nh phu? Kennedy. Mu.c ddi'ch cu?a o^ng
la` xem "ve^` khi'a ca.nh dda.o ddu+'c su+. can thie^.p quye^'t lie^.t
cu?a Hoa Ky` va`o no^.i bo^. cu?a mo^.t quo^'c gia ddo^`ng minh co'
the^? cha^'p nha^.n ddu+o+.c hay kho^ng".
Cuo^.c cu+'u xe't na`y dda~ cho Gia'o Su+ pha't gia'c ddu+o+.c mo^.t
"phu+o+ng thu+'c quye^'t ddi.nh la`m thay ddo^?i sa^u dda^.m hi`nh a?nh
cu?a mo^.t so^' nha^n va^.t then cho^'t trong tha?m ki.ch". No' cu~ng
cho tha^'y ra(`ng "To^?ng Tho^'ng Kennedy dda~ chu? ta^m ddie^`u
khie^?n cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh la^.t chi'nh phu? cu?a ddo^`ng minh o^ng,
la` O^ng Ngo^ DDinh Die^.m".
Nhu+~ng tie^'t lo^. dda'ng lu+u y' nha^'t la` tie^'t lo^. ve^` vai
tro` cu?a Kennedy trong cuo^.c dda?o chi'nh la^.t ddo^? O^ng Die^.m.
Gia'o Su+ Winters vie^'t:
"Nga`y 29/8/1963 To^?ng Tho^'ng Kennedy dda~ quye^'t
ddi.nh khuye^'n khi'ch la^.t ddo^? To^?ng Tho^'ng Ngo^ DDi`nh Die^.m,
va` trong hai tha'ng tro+`i o^ng dda~ ddi'ch tha^n gia'm sa't cuo^.c
la^.t ddo^? na`y, tuy o^ng y' thu+'c ro~ ra`ng ra(`ng co' ra^'t i't
kha? na(ng ngu+o+`i quo^'c tru+o+?ng thay the^' o^ng Die^.m na`y se~
ta`i gio?i ho+n. DDo' la` mo^.t ddie^`u ma` trong mo^.t tho+`i gian
da`i bi`nh lua^.n gia cho ra(`ng kho' hie^?u. DDie^`u kho' hie^?u na`y
dda~ ddu+o+.c gia?i to?a mo^.t pha^`n vo+'i tie^'t lo^. la` Kennedy
dda~ no'i rie^ng vo+'i va`i ngu+o+`i ba.n ra(`ng o^ng ta co' y' ddi.nh
ru't qua^n My~ kho?i Vie^.t Nam sau khi o^ng ta'i dda('c cu+? na(m
1964. DDo^'i vo+'i Kennedy, vie^?n a?nh ba^'t o^?n va`/hay ho^~n loa.n
xa^?y ra sau mo^.t cuo^.c dda?o chi'nh i't dda'ng so+. vi` sau 1963 Hoa
Ky` se~ kho^ng co`n chie^'n dda^'u o+? ddo' nu+~a. Chi'nh phu? mo+'i
cu?a Nam Vie^.t Nam se~ pha?i tu+. lo la^'y". (tr.3)[6]
Gia'o Su+ Winters no'i the^m ra(`ng quye^'t ddi.nh la^.t ddo^? O^ng
Die^.m la` mo^.t quye^'t ddi.nh co^' y'; ve^` pha^`n vie^n chu+'c chi'nh
phu? Kennedy no' ca(n cu+' tre^n ly' do dda.o ly', co`n ddo^.ng lu+.c
thu'c dda^?y Kennedy la` chu? nghi~a co+ ho^.i chi'nh tri., va` ro^'t
cuo^.c chi'nh To^?ng Tho^'ng Kennedy dda~ quye^'t ddi.nh dde^? cho O^ng
Die^.m bi. hy sinh tre^n ba`n tho+` du+ lua^.n Hoa Ky` tuy ra(`ng o^ng
ta va^~n co`n chu't i't ca?m ti`nh vo+'i o^ng na`y.(4; To^i nha^'n
ma.nh)
Chu? nghi~a co+ ho^.i, hy sinh o^ng Die^.m cho du+ lua^.n Hoa Ky`, y'
ddi.nh ru't kho?i Vie^.t Nam na(m 1965, lie^n he^. ma^.t thie^'t vo+'i
nhau. DDie^`u na`y ra^'t ca^`n bie^'t dde^? hie^?u ro~ ve^` cuo^.c
dda?o cha'nh 1963. Cho ne^n pha?i ddi sa^u va`o chi tie^'t.
Gia'o Su+ Winters, cu~ng nhu+ nhie^`u ngu+o+`i kha'c, cho ra(`ng quye^'t
ddi.nh la^.t ddo^? O^ng Die^.m cu?a Kennedy co' mo^.t ca'i gi` bi' a^?n
ma` ho. kho^ng hie^?u no^?i. DDo' la`: ta.i sao o^ng na`y quye^'t
ddi.nh nhu+ va^.y ne^'u o^ng co' y' ddi.nh ru't lui kho?i Vie^.t Nam
va`o na(m 1965, du` ra(`ng co' ba'o ca'o no'i ra(`ng O^ng Die^.m, va`
nha^'t la` ba`o dde^. o^ng, O^ng Ngo^ DDi`nh Nhu, muo^'n su+. hie^.n
die^.n cu?a My~ bo+'t ddi, va` co' ngay ca? ba'o ca'o no'i ra(`ng o^ng
na`y ddang ddie^`u ddi`nh ho`a bi`nh vo+'i Ha` No^.i, nghi~a la` ta.o
ddie^`u kie^.n cho Hoa Ky` so+'m cha^'m du+'t can thie^.p cu?a ho. va`o
Vie^.t Nam.
Gia?i dda'p cho ca^u ho?i tre^n la`: Kennedy muo^'n ddu+o+.c ta'i dda('c
cu+? to^?ng tho^'ng va`o tha'ng 11 na(m 1964, va` muo^'n ddu+o+.c
va^.y, o^ng pha?i ddu+o+.c su+. u?ng ho^. cu?a phi'a Ta? la^~n phi'a
Hu+~u Hoa Ky`. Trong cuo^.c tuye^?n cu+? na(m 1960, o^ng ta chi?
tha('ng vo+'i mo^.t so^' phie^'u nho?, la` 118.574 phie^'u, va` nhu+~ng
tha(m do` du+ lua^.n va`o tha'ng 6 na('m 1963 cho bie^'t ra(`ng ty?
so^' da^n chu'ng u?ng ho^. o^ng dda~ tuo^.t tu+` 60 % xuo^'ng 47%.
O^ng ta ca^`n ca?i thie^.n hi`nh a?nh o^ng ve^` phi'a Ta?, nha^'t la`
trong lu'c phong tra`o ddo`i quye^`n co^ng da^n ddang so^i ddo^.ng
(cuo^.c bie^?u ti`nh Selma), ba(`ng ca'ch chu+'ng minh ra(`ng, tra'i
vo+'i ddie^`u ngu+o+`i ta nghi~, o^ng kho^ng thie^'u nhie^.t ti`nh, ma`
ra^'t so^'t sa('n, trong vie^.c ba?o ve^. quye^`n co^ng da^n; ba(`nh
chu+'ng la` o^ng co^ng khai to^' ca'o chi'nh quye^`n pha?n da^n chu?
cu?a O^ng Die^.m, va` dda(.c bie^.t la` su+. dda`n a'p to^n gia'o cu?a
o^ng na`y - ma` ngu+o+`i My~ kho^ng cha^'p nha^.n O+? . Nhu+ng o^ng
cu~ng pha?i ddu+o+ng dda^`u vo+'i phi'a Hu+~u, do O^ng Barry Goldwater
la~nh dda.o, vi` ho. to^' gia'c o^ng la` "me^`m" trong co^ng cuo^.c
cho^'ng co.ng, ba(`ng ca'ch la`m cho ho. tha^'y ra(`ng o^ng kho^ng ha`i
lo`ng vo+'i su+. kho^ng hu+~u hie^.u cu?a O^ng Die^.m trong co^ng
cuo^.c cho^'ng co.ng va` muo^'n thay the^' o^ng na`y ba(`ng nhu+~ng
la~nh dda.o co' kha? na(ng va` sa(~n sa`ng tie^'n ha`nh chie^'n tranh
ma.nh ho+n va` co' ke^'t qua? to^'t ho+n.
Vi` ta'i dda('c cu+? la` vie^.c u+u tie^n, Kennedy pha?i do+`i vie^.c
ru't kho?i Vie^.t Nam la.i dde^'n 1965. Kenneth O'Donnel, bi' thu+ o^ng
ta, tie^'t lo^. trong ho^`i ky' o^ng ra(`ng va`o mu`a xua^n 1963,
Kennedy no'i vo+'i Thu+o+.ng nghi. si~ Mike Mansfield ra(`ng o^ng
ddo^`ng y' vo+'i o^ng na`y ve^` nhu ca^`u "ru't he^'t qua^n kho?i Vie^.t
Nam", nhu+ng o^ng ta kho^ng thu+.c ha`nh vie^.c na`y ngay ddu+o+.c,
pha?i ddo+.i dde^'n sau 1965, sau khi o^ng ta'i dda('c cu+?. Ne^'u o^ng
ta co^ng bo^' y' ddi.nh na`y tru+o+'c cuo^.c tuye^?n cu+? 1964 thi`
"phi'a ba?o thu? se~ la o' ru`m
beng ke^u go.i ddu+`ng bo? phie^'u ba^`u o^ng ta la`m to^?ng tho^'ng
mo^.t nhie^.m ky` thu+' hai nu+~a".
Sau khi Thu+o+.ng nghi. si~ Mansfield ra ve^`, Kennnedy no'i vo+'i
O'Donnell:
"Na(m 1965, to^i se~ la` mo^.t to^?ng tho^'ng i't
ddu+o+.c u+a chuo^.ng nha^'t trong li.ch su+? Hoa Ky`. Ngu+o+`i ta se~
nguye^`n ru?a to^i kha('p no+i nhu+ mo^.t ngu+o+`i nha^n nhu+o+.ng Co.ng
sa?n. Nhu+ng to^i dde^'ch ca^`n. Ne^'u chu'ng ta ru't kho?i Vie^.t Nam
ba^y gio+`, chu'ng ta se~ pha?i ddu+o+ng dda^`u vo+'i mo^.t vu. la
hoa?ng kie^?u McCarthy, nhu+ng to^i co' the^? ru't qua^n sau khi to^i
ta'i dda('c cu+?. Cho ne^n, chu'ng ta pha?i lo sao cho to^i cha('c
cha('n ta'i dda('c cu+~".[7]
Y' ddi.nh ru't kho?i Vie^.t Nam va`o na(m 1965 cu?a Kennedy ddu+o+.c
O^ng Charles Bartlett, mo^.t ngu+o+`i ba.n tha^n cu?a o^ng ta, xa'c
nha^.n vo+'i Gia'o Su+ Winters na(m 1988. O^ng Kennedy no'i vo+'i o^ng
na`y: "Chu'ng ta cha(?ng co' tu+o+'ng lai gi` ca? o+? Vie^.t Nam.
Chu'ng ta se~ bi. dda' va(ng ra kho?i ddo'. Nhu+ng to^i kho^ng the^?
bo? ro+'i Vie^.t Nam tru+o+'c 1964. To^i kho^ng the^? ra tru+o+'c
cu+? tri va` xin ho. bo? phie^'u ta'i cu+? to^i sau khi to^i dda~
dde^? cho co.ng sa?n chie^'m ma^'t hai la~nh tho^? [La`o va` Vie^.t
Nam]". Nhu+ng sau khi ta'i dda('c cu+?, o^ng ta se~ ra~nh tay ru't lui.
(192)
Cho ne^n Kennedy quye^'t ddi.nh la^.t ddo^? O^ng Ngo^ DDi`nh Die^.m
na(m 1963 vi` nhu ca^`u ca' nha^n ca?i thie^.n hi`nh a?nh ve^` phi'a Ta?
va` phi'a Hu+~u dde^? cha('c a(n trong cuo^.c tuye^?n cu+? 1964, va`
O^ng Die^.m ddu+o+.c coi nhu+ la`
"mo^.t mo^'i dde do.a" cho su+. ta'i dda('c cu+? cu?a
o^ng ta. (193)
DDe^? ca?i thie^.n hi`nh a?nh mi`nh be^n phi'a Ta? cu~ng nhu+ be^n
phi'a Hu+~u, Kennedy a dua theo ba'o chi' Hoa Ky`, lu'c ddo' ddang
khua^'y ddo^.ng du+ lua^.n cho^'ng O^ng Die^.m ba(`ng ca'ch dda(ng tin
tha^'t thie^.t hay bi. bo'p me'o, ddu+'ng ve^` phi'a Pha^.t gia'o, tuy
ra(`ng tru+o+'c tha'ng 7, dda~ ro~, va` chi'nh To`a dda.i su+' Hoa Ky`
cu~ng ba'o ca'o ra(`ng, kho^ng co' chuye^.n dda`n a'p Pha^.t gia'o, ma`
chi? co' chuye^.n mo^.t nho'm nho? Pha^.t tu+? qua' khi'ch khua^'y
ddo^.ng vi` ho. nha^'t quye^'t muo^'n la^.t ddo^? chi'nh phu? Ngo^
DDi`nh Die^.m. O^ng Kennedy cu~ng cha^'p nha^.n nhu+ tha^.t nhu+~ng
ba'o ca'o le^.ch la.c cu?a nhu+~ng pha^`n tu+? cho^'ng O^ng Die^.m
dde^'n cu`ng no'i ra(`ng O^ng Die^.m ddang thua chie^'n tranh, ca'c o^ng
Die^.m va` Nhu cho^'ng My~, va` ddang ddie^`u ddi`nh vo+'i Ha` No^.i
dde^? "dda' My~ ra kho?i Vie^.t Nam".
Mo^.t khi'a ca.nh ddi ddo^i vo+'i su+. co^' y' ve^` cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh
la` ca'ch la^.p ke^' hoa.ch dda?o cha'nh. Gia'o Su+ Winters dda~ phanh
phui ra nhu+~ng du+~ kie^.n cho tha^'y ro~ ra(`ng nhu+~ng te^n cho^'ng
O^ng Die^.m dde^'n cu`ng dda~ mu+u nghi~ ra mo^.t ke^' hoa.ch nham
hie^?m (kie^?u Machiavel), ddu+o+.c Kennedy ddi'ch tha^n cha^'p thua^.n.
Ke^' hoa.ch na`y go^`m hai nga.nh cha^u la.i nhau nhu+ ca'i ki`m, ke.p
O^ng Die^.m va`o mo^.t the^' kho^ng the^? thoa't ddu+o+.c. Hai nga.nh
ddo' ho+.p ddie^?m o+? ke^'t lua^.n: pha?i de.p Die^.m ddi la` mo^.t
quye^'t ddi.nh ca^`n thie^'t, va` to^? chu+'c dda?o cha'nh la` mo^.t
ha`nh ddo^.ng chi'nh dda'ng.
[Cuo^.c dda?o chi'nh to^? chu+'c va` thi ha`nh the^'
na`o dda~ tri`nh ba`y ro~ trong ba`i na(m ngoa'i, "A'nh sa'ng mo+'i ve^`
cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh tha'ng 11 na(m 1963", ne^n tu+o+?ng kho^ng ca^`n
nha('c la.i chi tie^t o+? dda^y].
DDie^`u ma` i't ddu+o+.c bie^'t ro~ la` ca'i ma` Gia'o Su+ Winters go.i
la`
"Afterschocks" (Giao ddo^.ng ma.nh), nhu+~ng pha?n
u+'ng cu?a nhu+~ng ke? chu? tru+o+ng dda?o cha'nh cu~ng nhu+ cu?a
la~nh tu. co.ng sa?n o+? Ha` No^.i.
Mo^.t trong nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i cho^'ng O^ng Die^.m trie^.t dde^? va`
ha(ng say chu? tru+o+ng dda?o cha'nh la` Michael Forrestal. O^ng na`y
dda~ la^.p lua^.n ma.nh ra(`ng muo^'n ca?i thie^.n ti`nh hi`nh Vie^.t
Nam pha?i de.p O^ng Die^.m ddi, va` dda~ dde^` nghi. ddu+a Tu+o+'ng
Du+o+ng Va(n Minh thay the^' O^ng Die^.m, cho ddo' la` mo^.t lu+.a cho.n
"ho+.p ly'". Nhu+ng nga`y 11 tha'ng 12, chi? na(m tua^`n sau vu.
dda?o cha'nh, o^ng ta la.i ba'o ca'o tu+` Sa`i Go`n ra(`ng chi'nh phu?
Vie^.t Nam ba^'t ddo^.ng, Tu+o+'ng Minh kho^ng qua? quye^'t, co^ng
chu+'c chi'nh phu? co' ve? xa vo+`i nhu+~ng nhu ca^`u cu?a da^n ca'c
la`ng xa~. (116)
Roger Hilsman, ngu+o+`i dda~ ddo'ng mo^.t vai tro` chu? cho^'t trong
vu. tha?o va` go+?i bu+'c ddie^.n va(n nga`y 24/8 ba^.t dde`n xanh cho
DDa.i su+' Cabot Lodge dda?o cha'nh, kho^ng co`n ddu+o+.c du+. nhu+~ng
buo^?i ho^.i cu?a To^?ng Tho^'ng nu+~a. O^ng ta no'i vo+'i Ba` Hammer
la` o^ng dda~ tu+` chu+'c vi` ba^'t ddo^`ng y' kie^'n ve^` chi'nh sa'ch,
nhu+ng To^?ng Tho^'ng Johnson la.i no'i ra(`ng:"Khi to^i nha^.n chu+'c
to^?ng tho^'ng, ngu+o+`i ma` to^i ra le^.nh ba~i chu+'c dda^`u tie^n la`
Hilsman...ddo' la` mo^.t trong nhu+~ng quye^'t ddi.nh dda^`u tie^n cu?a
to^i".(Hammer, p.314) Khi Ba` Higgins ho?i o^ng ta ca?m tha^'y the^'
na`o khi tay o^ng va^'y ma'u, o^ng ta tra? lo+`i ra^'t ho+`i ho+.t
ra(`ng: "Ca'ch ma.ng ta`n ba.o. Ngu+o+`i ta bi. dda'nh ddau". Lu'c
ddo' la` na(m 1963, "ngu+o+`i ta" chi? go^`m co' hai ngu+o+`i, la` anh
em ho. Ngo^. Na(m 1975, "ngu+o+`i ta ddo'" la` 58.000 ngu+o+`i My~ bi.
bo? ma.ng vi` chie^'n tranh Vie^.t Nam!
Nhu+ng nhu+~ng pha?n u+'ng dda'ng ghi nha^'t la` pha?n u+'ng cu?a
Harriman va` Cabot Lodge, chu? cho^'t ve^` mu+u lu+o+.c, va` chu?
cho^'t ve^` thi ha`nh dda?o cha'nh.
Harriman, ngu+o+`i ca^`m dda^`u "bo^. ba" nha^'t quye^'t 'ha. Die^.m",
vo'i lua^.n ddie^.u la` co' de.p O^ng Die^.m ddi mo+'i "tie^'p tu.c
chie^'n tranh ddu+o+.c", dda~ to? ra "hoa`n toa`n nga.c nhie^n". Nga`y
30 tha'ng 1, khi ddu+o+.c tin Tu+o+'ng Minh dda~ bi. Tu+o+'ng Kha'nh
la^.t ddo^?, o^ng ta to? ra "kho^ng hie^?u no^?i ta.i sao chi'nh phu?
do o^ng ta la^.p le^n la.i su.p ddo^?". Tha'ng 4, o^ng ta no'i vo+'i
A.Schlesinger ra(`ng "Die^.m to^'t ho+n la` ti`nh tra.ng ho^~n loa.n
nga`y nay", va` o^ng ta thu' nha^.n ra(`ng vi`o+` "qua' no'ng na?y" o^ng
ta dda~ kho^ng na('m vu+~ng chi'nh sa'ch ve^` Vie^.t Nam. (120, 123)
DDu'ng va^.y. O^ng ta ra^'t ghe't O^ng Die^.m, va` dda~ "bie^'n su+.
ghe't ddo' tha`nh chi'nh sa'ch", mo^.t tha'i ddo^. nguy hie^?m khi
mi`nh la` mo^.t ngu+o+`i co^' va^'n. O^ng Robert Kennedy dda~ no'i nhu+
sau ve^` Harriman trong mo^.t cuo^.c pho?ng va^'n va`o tha'ng 4, 1964:
"Nhu+~ng ddie^`u khuye^n cu?a o^ng a^'y sai. Thu+.c the^', o^ng ta dda~
dda^?y chu'ng to^i va`o mo^.t con ddu+o+`ng nguy hie^?m" (Hammer,
pp.31-32)[8]
Ve^` Lodge, ngu+o+`i dda~ nha^'t quye^'t tru+` bo? chi'nh phu? Die^.m
ddi vi` chi'nh phu? na`y kho^ng theo tie^u chua^?n da^n chu? Hoa Ky`,
va` dda~ qua? quye^'t ra(`ng "co' the^? cha('c 50% ra(`ng chi'nh phu?
sau na`y se~ kho^ng vu.ng ve^` loa.ng choa.ng nhu+ chi'nh phu? hie^.n
nay", o^ng ta kho^ng tha^'y ho^? the.n gi` ca? khi, trong buo^?i ho.p
nga`y 20 tha'ng 11 ta.i Honolulu, kho^ng dda^`y ba tua^`n sau khi dda?o
cha'nh, o^ng ta no'i ngu+o+.c la.i nhu+~ng gi` mi`nh dda~ tuye^n bo^'
tru+o+'c ddo'. O^ng no'i vo+'i ca'c ddo^`ng su+. o^ng ra(`ng "theo y'
o^ng, Hoa Ky` ddu+a ra nhu+~ng ddo`i ho?i kha'i qua't ve^` da^n chu?
ho'a hay ve^` tuye^?n cu+? so+'m lu'c na`y la` ha`nh ddo^.ng kho^ng
sa'ng suo^'t....O^ng nha^'n ma.nh ra(`ng chu'ng ta se~ may ma('n la('m
ne^'u sa'u tha'ng to+'i dda^y ca'c tu+o+'ng la~nh kho^ng ra~ ha`ng va`
cho^'ng ddo^'i nhau.... Ngu+o+`i My~ - du` la` ngu+o+`i trong chi'nh
phu? hay trong gio+'i ba'o chi'
- ne^n tra'nh hu+o+'ng da^~n
ho. hoa(.c co^' la`m cho ho. cu+ xu+? nhu+ ho. la` ngu+o+`i gio^'ng
chu'ng ta...."
O^ng Lodge la.i co' nhu+~ng tin tu+'c la`m cho ddo^`ng su+. "ru`ng
mi`nh": da^n chu'ng ngoa`i vu`ng Sa`i Go`n "la~nh dda.m" ddo^'i vo+'i
ca'c tu+o+'ng la~nh; no^ng da^n "kho^ng no^`ng nhie^.t" ddo^'i vo+'i
chi'nh phu? qua^n su+.; ho. to? ve?
"tie^'c tha^'y o^ng to^?ng tho^'ng cu?a ho. bi. la^.t
ddo^? va` a'm sa't"; ta^'t ca? ca'c chu+o+ng tri`nh dde^`u ga^`n nhu+
khu+.ng la.i.
(112-113)
Cuo^'i cu`ng, o^ng Thu+o+.ng nghi. si~ Mansfield, ma` to+` phu'c tri`nh
tha'ng 12 na(m 1962 to^' gia'c o^ng Die^.m cai tri. mo^.t ca'ch chuye^n
che^', nha^'n ma.nh ra(`ng o^ng Die^.m dda~ ma^'t lie^n la.c vo+'i da^n
chu'ng, va` khuye^'n ca'o Hoa Ky` ne^n ta'ch xa chi'nh phu? O^ng Die^.m
ddi, dda~ a?nh hu+o+?ng Kennedy mo^.t ca'ch quye^'t ddi.nh va` pha't
ddo^.ng chie^'n di.ch cho^'ng-Die^.m, nay la.i nha^.p ha`ng nhu+~ng
ngu+o+`i ho^ lo+'n ra(`ng su+. la^.t ddo^? O^ng Die^.m la`
"mo^.t tha?m ki.ch lo+'n".(Higgins, p.314).
Na(m 1963 Hoa Ky` dda~ dda'nh ddo^`ng minh Vie^.t Nam cu?a mi`nh mo^.t
ddo`n chi' tu+?. Trong vie^.c na`y, nhu~ng chi'nh sa'ch cu?a Kennedy
ddo'ng mo^.t vai tro` quye^'t ddi.nh. DDa^y la` mo^.t su+. thu+.c chua
cha't. DDie^`u na`y dda~ ddu+o+.c ca'c la~nh dda.o Ba('c Vie^.t nha^'n
ma.nh.
Khi ddu+o+.c tin O^ng Die^.m bi. la^.t ddo^?, Ho^` Chi' Minh no'i:
"To^i kho^ng ngo+` ra(`ng tu.i My~ ngu dde^'n the^'" (Higgins, p. 302,
tri'ch Wilfred Burchett)
Khi Tu+o+'ng Vo~ Nguye^n Gia'p va` nhu+~ng ddo^`ng chi' co`n so^'ng so't
cu?a o^ng ga(.p o^ng McNamara o+? Ha` No^.i tha'ng 11 na(m 1995, ho.
no'i ra(`ng
"Chi'nh sa'ch cu?a Kennedy o+? Vie^.t Nam sai la^`m
he^'t cho^? no'i. Ngo^ DDi`nh Die^.m la` mo^.t ngu+o+`i co' tinh
tha^`n quo^'c gia, kho^ng khi na`o O^ng ta chi.u dde^? cho ngu+o+`i My~
da`nh quye^`n ddie^`u khie^?n chie^'n tranh [mo^.t su+. da`nh quye^`n]
ddu+a ngu+o+`i My~ va` ddo^`ng minh ba^'t ha.nh cu?a ho. dde^'n tha^'t
ba.i dda('t gia'. Cho ne^n, ke^'t qua? cu?a cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh la^t
ddo^? O^ng Die^.m na(m 1963 la` su+. ke^'t thu'c so+'m
[cu?a su+. hie^.n die^.n cu?a]
Hoa Ky` o+? Vie^.t Nam, mo^.t ddie^`u dda'ng la`m cho ngu+o+'i ta nga.c
nhie^n."
(2; ta'c gia? ba`i na`y nha^'n ma.nh).
Va` DDa`i pha't thanh Ha` No^.i no'i:"Do su+. la^.t ddo^? Ngo^ DDi`nh
Die^.m va` em O^ng la` Ngo^ DDi`nh Nhu, tu.i dde^' quo^'c My~ dda~ tu+.
mi`nh hu?y die^.t nhu+~ng co+ so+? chi'nh tri. ma` ho. dda~ ma^'t
be^'t bao nhie^u na(m dde^? xa^y du+.ng"(112)
Ve^` phi'a ca'c la~nh tu. Ma(.t Tra^.n Gia?i pho'ng Mie^`n Nam thi` ho.
kho^ng ngo+` la` ho. la.i may ma('n nhu+ the^'. "Su+. su.p ddo^?
cu?a Die^.m la` mo^.t qua` tro+`i ban cho chu'ng to^i", Nguye^~n Hu+~u
Tho., chu? ti.ch Ma(.t Tra^.n no'i vo+'i Nha^n Da^n.
Va` Pho' chu? ti.ch Tra^`n Nam Trung: "Tu.i My~ quye^'t ddi.nh ddo^?i
ngu+.a giu+~a do`ng. Chu'ng se~ kho^ng khi na`o ti`m ddu+o+.c mo^.t
ngu+o+`i hu+~u hie^.u ho+n Die^.m" (Hammer, p.309-310)
Trong pha^`n II cu?a sa'ch, Gia'o Su+ Winters ho.a cha^n dung cu?a na(m
nha^n va^.t chi'nh cu?a bi ki.ch dda?o cha'nh. Vi` kho^ng ddu? cho^~
ne^n o+? dda^y chi? co' the^? no'i so+ qua, va` ve^` nhu+~ng ne't
chi'nh cu?a kha'i ca.nh na`y.
Ve^` Dean Rusk, Bo^. tru+o+?ng Ngoa.i giao, Gia'o Su+ Winters nha^.n
xe't ra(`ng o^ng na`y dda~ quye^'t ddi.nh trua^'t ha. quo^'c tru+o+?ng
ho+.p hie^'n cu?a mo^.t quo^'c gia ddo^`ng minh vi` o^ng ta "ghe^ to+?m
che^' ddo^. chuye^n che^'", nhu+ng quye^'t ddi.nh ddo' "sai la^`m" vi`
no' ca(n cu+' tre^n mo^.t "quan nie^.m he.p ho`i ve^` chi'nh tho^'ng",
va` "ke^'t qua? cu?a su+. ca^.y quye^`n xen xi'a va`o no^.i bo^.
Vie^.t Nam....ta^'t nhie^n pha?i cay dda('ng".(147-151)
Ve^` O^ng ngo^ DDi`nh Die^.m, Gia'o Su+ Winters to? ra tho^ng ca?m.
Theo o^ng,
"O^ng Die^.m kho^ng pha?i la` mo^.t nha^n va^.t bi'
a^?n, ma` chi? la` mo^.t nha` chuye^n che^' trong ti`nh tra.ng bi.
ta^'n co^ng, pha?i tranh dda^'u dde^? to^`n ta.i"
,va` "O^ng Die^.m pha?i ddu+o+ng dda^`u vo+'i nhu+~ng
kho' kha(n la`m na?n lo`ng....O^ng ta bi. nhu+~ng lu+.c lu+o+.ng tu+`
ngoa`i va` trong nu+o+'c va^y ha~m trong ga^`n mu+o+`i na(m. Trong
nhu+~ng ddie^`u kie^.n ddo', Vie^.t Nam va^~n tu+` tu+` xa^y ddu+o+.c
mo^.t co+ ca^'u chi'nh tri. ta^n tie^'n. DDo' la` mo^.t tha`nh ti'ch
tu+o+ng ddo^'i dda'ng kha^m phu.c."(153)
Ve^` ba'o chi', va` dda(.c bie^.t la` ba'o New York Times, Gia'o Su+
Winters ghi ra(`ng ho. luo^n luo^n sa(?n sa`ng "la(.p la.i nhu+~ng
tri`nh ba`y me'o mo' ve^` nhu+~ng du+~ kie^.n co' the^? kie^?m ddie^?m
de^~ da`ng", ti'nh ca'ch "thie^n vi. cu?a nhu+~ng tu+o+`ng tri`nh ve^`
vu. khu?ng khoa?ngy` Pha^.t gia'o na(m 1963", va` "go'p pha^`n va`o
ga^y bo^'i ro^'i cho chi'nh phu? Hoa Ky` vi` nhu+~ng lo+`i co^ng ki'ch
vu+`a kho^ng chi'nh xa'c vu+`a ki.ch lie^.t cho^'ng O^ng Die^.m"(177,
179)
Chu+o+ng ve^` Kennedy tha^u to'm nhu+~ng gi` no'i trong sa'ch. Gia'o
Su+ Winters nha^.n xe't ra(`ng Kennedy "ta`n nha^~n", "kho^ng dde^'m
xi?a gi` dde^'n so^' pha^.n Vie^.t Nam", "theo co+ ho^.i chu? nghi~a",
"cha(?ng ca^`n bie^'t chi'nh phu?
thay the^' O^ng Die^.m la` thu+' chi'nh phu? gi`",
"ta`n nha^~n trong tham vo.ng",
"ddo^`ng ho'a su+. ta'i dda('c cu+? cu?a ca' nha^n
mi`nh vo+'i quye^`n lo+.i quo^'c gia"(191-195)
Ve^` Lodge, Gia'o Su+ Winters ghi ra(`ng o^ng na`y a'p du.ng "mo^.t
phu+o+ng thu+'c la. lu`ng ve^` ngoa.i giao o+? Sa`i Go`n", chi? la`m
theo y' mi`nh trong tu+ ca'ch dda.i su+' va` do ddo' "la`m cho bang giao
kho' kha(n cu?a Kennedy vo+'i O^ng Die^.m ddo^? vo+~", " co' tha'i
ddo^. la~nh dda.m kie^?u tha'i thu' ddo^'i vo+'i O^ng Die^.m", u+a
chuo^.ng nhu+~ng bie^?u hie^.u tu+o+.ng tru+ng cu?a mo^.t the^' ky?
kha'c trong "tie^'p ca^.n tu+o+.ng tru+ng ve^` ngoa.i giao", va` "dda^`u
o'c ro^~ng" (165,167,170).
Lodge la` dde^` ta`i nghie^n cu+'u ra^'t chi tie^'t cu?a Ba` Anne Blair
trong ta'c pha^?m Lodge in Vietnam, A Patriot Abroad, ta'c pha^?m se~
ddu+o+.c cu+'u xe't du+o+'i dda^y.
Kha'c vo+'i ta'c pha^?m cu?a Gia'o Su+ Winters, ta'c pha^?m cu?a Ba`
Blair ha.n che^' ho+n: no' chi? chu' ta^m va`o mo^.t ngu+o+`i: Henery
Cabot Lodge. Nhu+ Ba` ta gia?i thi'ch trong Da^~n nha^.p, mu.c ddi'ch
cu?a cuo^.c nghie^n cu+'u la` ti`m gia?i dda'p cho ca^u ho?i: ta.i sao
Hoa Ky`, va` U'c, xu+' so+? cu?a Ba`,[9] kho^ng na('m la^'y co+ ho^.i
dda~ thi?nh thoa?ng xa?y ra dde^? ru't kho?i Vie^.t Nam trong
"tho+`i gian ro^'i ren sau cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh O^ng
Die^.m"
Vi` "giai ddoa.n bi' a^?n" na`y na(`m trong tho+`i gian Lodge la`m dda.i
su+', ne^n ca^`n nghie^n cu+'u ve^` Lodge. Nghi~a la` pha?i chu' y'
dde^'n nhu+~ng hoa`n ca?nh ddu+a dde^'n su+. bo^? nhie^.m o^ng ta, ca'
ti'nh cu?a o^ng ta, ca'ch la`m vie^.c cu?a o^ng ta, va` phe^ pha'n
tha`nh ti'ch cu?a o^ng ta. (Blair, p.x)[10]
Cu`ng vo+'i ta'c pha^?m cu?a Gia'o Su+ Winters, ta'c pha^?m cu?a Ba`
Blair to?a chie^'u a'nh sa'ng va`o cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh, va`o nhu+~ng
ngu+o+`i di'nh li'u va`o ddo', va` va`o nhu+~ng ly' do cu?a su+. tha^'t
ba.i ngoa.n mu.c cu?a Hoa Ky` o+? Vie^.t Nam.
Lodge dda~ ddu+o+.c cho.n dde^? ddie^`u khie^?n nhie^.m so+? ma` o^ng
Rusk, ngu+o+`i ddo+? dda^`u Lodge, mo^ ta? la` "nhie^.m so+? kho'
kha(n nhu+'t trong nga`nh ngoa.i giao Hoa Ky`" (14). Nhu+ng Ba` Blair
cho ra(`ng cho.n o^ng Lodge la` "mo^.t su+. lu+.a cho.n ra^'t sai".
Ta.i sao? Ta.i vi`: o^ng ta kho^ng bie^'t gi` he^'t ve^` vu`ng na`y(3);
o^ng ta chi? co' va`i y' nie^.m mo+ ho^` ve^` Pha^.t Gia'o, va` bie^'t
ra^'t i't ve^` va(n ho'a Vie^.t Nam (34); o^ng ta tin ra(`ng ma.nh kho?e
va` dde.p trai quan tro.ng dde^? la`m chi'nh tri. va` ngoa.i giao ho+n
la` linh lo+.i ve^` tri' tue^. (5); o^ng ta la^'y quye^'t ddi.nh ga^'p
ga'p tre^n ca(n ba?n cu?a tie^n kie^'n
(35); o^ng ta thi'ch ho+.p cho Paris va` A^u cha^u
ho+n(26); o^ng ta kho^ng thi'ch ho+.p trong the^' gio+'i chuye^n
nghie^.p cu?a cuo^'i the^' ky? 20 (5); va`, dda^y la` mo^.t ddie^`m ma`
Ba` Blair nha^'n ma.nh, vi` kho^ng co' kinh nghie^.m ve^` ha`nh cha'nh
ne^n "o^ng kho^ng co' nhu+~ng kha? na(ng phu+'c ta.p ve^` qua?n ly'
dde^? ddie^`u ho+.p ta`i nguye^n va` nha^n vie^n cu?a mo^.t to`a dda.i
die^.n hie^.n dda.i" (17)
Nhu+ va^.y, ddu+a Lodge la`m dda.i su+' o+? Vie^.t Nam la` mo^.t su+.
lo^~i la^`m cu?a Rusk va` Kennedy. Nhu+ng ho. cu~ng co' ly' do rie^ng
cu?a ho.: ddo' la` vi` Lodge la` mo^.t dda?ng vie^n co' tho+' cu?a
DDa?ng co.ng ho`a, va` su+. bo^? nhie^.m O^ng Lodge se~ "dda^?y le^.ch
cu+? tri kho?i theo Barry Goldwater, dda.i die^.n ca'nh hu+~u cu?a
DDa?ng co.ng ho`a, ddang ddo`i Hoa Ky` pha?i la`m ma.nh ho+n o+? Vie^.t
Nam".(13)
Ba` Blair ghi xe't:"Li.ch su+? cho tha^'y ra(`ng, nho+` su+. bo^?
nhie^.m O^ng Lodge, Kennedy dda~ dda.t ddu+o+.c mu.c tie^u la` la`m
le^.ch hu+o+'ng chi? tri'ch o^ng trong va^'n dde^` can thie^.p va`o
Vie^.t Nam, nhu+ng ke^'t qua? la` ro^'t cu.c gia' pha?i tra? cho su+.
ranh xa?o ddo' ra^'t dda('t vi` uy danh Hoa Ky` bi. to^?n thu+o+ng
na(.ng trong la~nh vu+.c ngoa.i giao". (13)
Chi? hai nga`y sau khi dda(.t cha^n xuo^ng Sa`i Go`n, Lodge dda~ la^'y
nhu+~ng pha'n quye^'t co' ha^.u qua? ra^'t lo+'n ca(n cu+' tre^n tuye^n
bo^' cu?a nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i ba'o ca'o vi` nhu+~ng lo+.i rie^ng ma` o^ng
ta kho^ng bie^'t gi` he^'t. O^ng quye^'t ddi.nh ra(`ng pha?i la^.t
ddo^? chi'nh phu? O^ng Die^.m. va` ddo' la`
"mo^.t quye^'t ddi.nh kho^ng dda?o ngu+o+.c vi` danh
du+. kho^ng cho phe'p". Sau sa'u nga`y, o^ng dda~ ddo'ng mo^.t vai
tro` lo+'n trong vie^.c pha't ddo^.ng mo^.t cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh.(4) Tu+`
dda^y tro+? ddi, o^ng nha^'t quye^'t kho^ng dde^? cho ca'i gi`, hay
cho ai, ke^? ca? Bo^. Tru+o+?ng Ngoa.i giao hay To^?ng tho^'ng,
dda^?y o^ng le^.ch mu.c tie^u na`y.
Lodge dda~ la`m the^' na`o dde^? thu+.c hie^.n mu.c ddi'ch cu?a o^ng
la` chuye^.n chu'ng ta dda~ bie^'t ro~. Nhu+ng Ba` Blair phanh phui ra
nhie^`u chi tie^'t ly' thu' ve^` ha^.u qua? cu?a vu. dda?o chi'nh,
nha^'t la` ve^` ddie^u ddu+'ng cu?a Lodge vo+'i ma^'y o^ng tu+o+'ng ma`
o^ng dda~ thu'c dda^?y la^.t ddo^? O^ng Die^.m dde^? dda^?y ma.nh
chie^'n tranh va` ddi dde^'n chie^'n tha('ng. Qua nhu+~ng ddie^u
ddu+'ng ddo', Lodge tha^'y ddu+o+.c thu+.c ta.i Vie^.t Nam, ho.c
ddu+o+.c i't nhie^`u ve^` va(n ho'a Vie^.t Nam, mo^.t ddie^`u ma` dda'ng
le~ o^ng ta pha?i la`m tru+o+'c khi bu+o+'c cha^n xuo^'ng Vie^.t Nam va`
ddo^'i dda^`u vo+'i o^ng Die^.m!
Quye^'t ddi.nh la^.t ddo^? O^ng Die^.m cu?a Lodge se~ ddu+a dde^'n
mo^.t "tha^'t ba.i chi'nh tri. lo+'n lao" trong nhu+~ng na(m 1963 va`
1964. Vi` ly' do na`y To^?ng tho^'ng Johnson kho^ng co`n lu+.a cho.n
na`o kha'c la` pha?i ddu+a qua^n can thie^.p tru+.c ie^'p va`o Vie^.t
Nam trong nhu+~ng ddie^`u kie^.n kho^ng cho phe'p Hoa Ky` tha('ng
ddu+o+.c.
Nhu+ va^.y la` Ba` Blair ti`m tha^'y gia?i dda'p cho ca^u ho?i dda~
thu'c Ba` la`m cuo^.c nghie^n cu+'u cu?a Ba`.
Ba` Blair vie^'t:
"Lodge la`m dda.i su+' lu'c ma` Hoa Ky` ddang co`n
co' nhie^`u lu+.a cho.n ve^` chi'nh sa'ch o+? Vie^.t Nam ngoa`i su+.
nha?y va`o na('m quye^`n ddie^`u khie^?n chie^'n tranh. Trong ta'm
tha'ng ta.i nhie^.m cu?a o^ng ta, da^`n da^`n Hoa Ky` ma^'t he^'t lu+.a
cho.n. Lodge ddo'ng mo^.t vai tro` chu? ye^'u trong su+. be^' ta('c
na`y vi` ca'ch o^ng thi ha`nh nhie^.m vu. ngoa.i giao cu?a o^ng, vi`
nhu+~ng gia?i pha'p o^ng lu+.a cho.n [la` gia?i pha'p sai], vi` o^ng
kho^ng nha^.n tha^'y mo^.t so^' co+ ho^.i hie^.n ra lu'c ddo'...Lu'c
Lodge ba('t dda^`u nhie^.m vu. dda.i su+', nha^n vie^n da^n su+. va`
Bo^. Ngoa.i giao ddie^`u khie^?n chi'nh sa'ch ngoa.i giao o+? Vie^.t
Nam,y` lu'c o^ng ke^'t thu'c, qua^n ddo^.i va` Pentagon (Bo^. Quo^'c
pho`ng) na('m cha(.t quye^`n ha`nh" (xi-xii).
DDe^? ke^'t lua^.n, co' the^? la^'y lo+`i pha'n xe't du+o+'i dda^y
cu?a Ba` Blair:
"Lodge kho^ng ddu? kha? na(ng ddu+o+ng dda^`u vo+'i
nhu+~ng kho' kha(n Vie^.t Nam....O^ng ta pha'n quye^'t mo^.t ca'ch ha^'p
ta^'p, o^ng ta nhi`n ti`nh hi`nh chi'nh tri. Vie^.t Nam mo^.t ca'ch
qua' gia?n di., va` buo^ng tay khi nghi~ ra(`ng ca'c va^'n dde^` "ddo^ng
phu+o+ng" kho' qua' cha(?ng la`m gi` ddu+o+.c. DDa^`u na(m 1964 nhu+~ng
ddie^.n ti'n cu?a o^ng go+?i cho Washington mang ma`u sa('c tha'i ddo^.
cu?a ke? thu+.c da^n ddo^'i vo+'i "tu.i da^n ba?n xu+'"....
DDu'ng va^.y, su+. nghie^.p cu?a Hoa Ky` o+? Vie^.t Nam la` mo^.t su+.
nghie^.p thu+.c da^n.....O^ng Die^.m bi. la^.t ddo^? vi` o^ng kho^ng
chi.u la`m bu` nhi`n. O^ng Minh bi. ha^'t xuo^'ng khi o^ng ta kho^ng
ddo^`ng y' ve^` vie^.c do^.i bom Ba('c Vie^.t. O^ng Kha'nh, vo+'i su+.
tho?a thua^.n cu?a Hoa Ky`, ba?i nhie^.m Ho^.i DDo^`ng Nha^n Si~, mo^.t
co+ quan co' ti'nh ca'ch dda.i die^.n tho+`i ha^.u-Die^.m, va` hie^'n
pha'p 1966 ca^'m tu+ tu+o+?ng trung la^.p va` cho^'ng chie^'n tranh.
La`m sao "giai ddoa.n co^' va^'n" co' the^? ke^'t thu'c ddu+o+.c va`
Hoa Ky` ba('t buo^.c pha?i "na('m la^'y quye^`n ha`nh" ne^'u vie^.n
tro+. Hoa Ky` chi? la` vie^.n tro+.?"(158)
Ba` Blair dda~ to? ra ra^'t sa^u sa('c khi nha^.n thu+'c ra(`ng va^'n
dde^` o+? dda^y la` Hoa Ky` kho^ng coi tro.ng ddo^.c la^.p cu?a Vie^.t
Nam. Tha'i ddo^. cu?a O^ng Lodge chi? pha?n a?nh ca'ch tie^'p ca^.n
va^'n dde^` Vie^.t Nam cu?a vie^n chu+'c va` ky' gia?, cu~ng nhu+ gio+'i
dda.i ho.c Hoa Ky` trong nhu+~ng tha^.p nie^n 1960.
Nhu+ Ba` Blair, Gia'o Su+ Winters, Ba` Higgins va` Ba` Hammer cu~ng
nha^.n tha^'y khi'a ca.nh thu+.c da^n cu?a chi'nh sa'ch Hoa Ky` o+?
Vie^.t Nam.
Gia'o Su+ Winters vie^'t:
"Kho^ng nhu+~ng nhu+~ng gia' tri. cu?a Washington
hoa`n toa`n xa la. ddo^'i vo^'i ngu+o+`i Vie^.t Nam, ma` su+. vie^n
chu+'c va` chu? bu't My~ kho^ng ngo+'t ddo`i O^ng Die^.m pha?i cha^'p
nha^.n nhu+~ng gia' tri. ddo' sa(.c ma`u chu? nghi~a thu+.c da^n
mo+'i..." (Winters, p.9); o^ng lu+u y'
"lo^'i tie^'p ca^.n
ta^n-thu+.c-da^n tha(?ng thu+`ng cu?a Cabot Lodge ddo^'i vo+'i Mie^`n
Nam Vie^.t Nam", va` "cuo^.c bie^~u die^~n kha'c thu+o+`ng ve^` phong
ca'ch ta^n-thu+.c-da^n" cu?a o^ng ta trong di.p ca'c o^ng McNamara va`
Taylor vie^'ng tha(m Vie^.t Nam tha'ng 9 na(m 1963 (2, 87); tha'i ddo^.
"dde^' quo^'c chu? nghi~a vo^ ta^m" cu?a Halberstam (185); va` "tha'i
ddo^. thu+.c da^n vo^ ta^m cu?a Kennedy, pha?n a?nh ba?n ti'nh thu+.c
da^n cu?a ca'c ky' gia? va` chu? bu't tho+`i ddo'" (189).
Ba` Higgins khie^?n tra'ch Washington dda~ ddi va`o nghie^.p vu.
"mu+o+'n va` dduo^?i chi'nh phu?.....", va` "pha'ch lo^'i tu+. cho
mi`nh quye^`n la`m Thu+o+.ng dde^' o+? Vie^.t am" (Higgins, tr.289).
Co`n Ba` Hammer da^.n du+~ to^' ca'o "tha'i ddo^. thu+.c da^n vo^ lie^m
si~" cu?a Cabot Lodge
(Hammer, tr.209)
Tu+` nhu+~ng du+~ kie^.n tre^n dda^y co' the^? ru't ra ba`i ho.c gi`?
Gia'o Su+ Winters vie^'t:
"Ba`i ho.c Vie^.t Nam nay ca`ng nga`y ca`ng kho'
tra'nh ne': so^' pha^.n cu?a cuo^.c can thie^.p Hoa Ky` va`o Vie^.t Nam
la` ke^'t qua? chua dda('ng cu?a chu? nghi~a thu+.c da^n. Vi` tu+.
ma~n ngu+o+`i My~ dda~ xo^ng va`o bie^'n chi'nh phu? Vie^.t Nam tha`nh
mo^.t chi'nh phu? theo mo^ hi`nh da^n chu? Ta^y phu+o+ng, va` ddo' la`
mo^.t su+. xa^m pha.m mu` qua'ng quye^`n ddo^.c la^.p va` quye^`n tu+.
quye^'t. I't tru+`u tu+o+.ng ho+n, cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh cu?a Kennedy
nha(`m da^.p ta('t o+? Vie^.t Nam ngo.n lu+?a tu+. do nha^n danh mo^.t
ly' tu+o+?ng chi'nh tri. ngoa.i lai, da^n chu?, nhu+ng no' dda~ tha^'t
ba.i". (188-189)
Nhi`n tu+` mo^.t khi'a ca.nh A' ddo^ng, "tha?m ki.ch Vie^.t Nam"
ddu+o+.c tha^'y nhu+ sau. O^ng Ngo^ DDi`nh Die^.m dda~ thu+.c hie^.n
ddu+o+.c mo^.t ky` co^ng lo+'n: o^ng dda? da`nh ddu+o+.c mo^.t danh vi.
ma` ta^'t ca? nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i Vie^.t co' nguye^.n vo.ng la`m la~nh tu.
quo^'c gia dde^`u mo+ mo^.ng: ddu+o+.c co^ng nha^.n la` ngang ha`ng
vo+'i Ho^` Chi' Minh. DDe^`u na`y ro~ ra`ng khi Ho^` Chi' Minh no'i
vo+'i ky' gia? co.ng sa?n tru+' danh U'c, Wilfred Burchett, ra(`ng:
"O^ng Die^.m la` mo^.t nha` a'i quo^'c theo kie^?u
cu?a O^ng a^'y", va` "khi na`o anh ga(.p O^ng a^'y, anh ba('t tay O^ng
a^'y ho^. to^i" (45)
Nha^n di.p Te^'t, o^ng Ho^` nho+` U?y Ho^.i Quo^'c te^' chuye^?n cho
O^ng Die^.m mo^.t ca`nh dda`o no+? hoa. O^ng Die^m cho chu+'ng ca`nh
dda`o na`y trong pho`ng kha'ch Dinh Gia Long cho ngoa.i giao ddoa`n
tha^'y. Ca'c nha` ngoa.i giao la^'y vie^.c na`y la`m la., vi` ho.
kho^ng hie^?u ra(`ng du+~ kie^.n na`y co' mo^.t y' nghi~a bie^?u
tu+o+.ng: ddo' la` mo^.t bie^?u lo^. su+. to^n ki'nh cu?a Ho^` Chi'
Minh ddo^'i vo+'i O^ng Ngo^ DDi`nh Die^.m! (19) The^m nu+~a, qua trung
gian O^ng M. Maneli, dda.i die^.n Poland o+? UHQT, O^ng Ho^` nha('n
O^ng Die^.m ra(`ng, trong lie^n bang Vie^.t Nam sau na`y, ddi.a vi.
thu? tru+o+?ng Mie^`n Nam cu?a o^ng se~ ddu+o+.c to^n tro.ng (45)
DDa'ng le~ ngu+o+`i My~ pha?i cho ra(`ng ho. may ma('n ddu+o+.c mo^.t
ngu+o+`i ddo^`ng minh co+? lo+'n nhu+ O^ng Die^.m, ddem la.i ddu+o+.c
ho`a bi`nh cho Vie^.t Nam ma` ddo^`ng tho+`i duy tri` ddu+o+.c mo^.t
quo^'c gia Mie^`n Nam Vie^.t Nam rie^ng bie^.t va` kho^ng co.ng sa?n -
va` nhu+ va^.y Hoa Ky` co' the^? ha~nh die^.n tuye^n bo^' la` ho. dda?
"la`m tro.n su+' ma.ng" va` ru't lui trong danh du+.. DDa'ng le~ ho.
pha?i tuye^n du+o+ng O^ng Die^.m la` anh hu`ng va` cu+'u tinh cu?a ho..
Thay vi` va^.y, ho. dda~ chu? mu+u la^.t ddo^? va` a'm sa't O^ng.
"Tha?m ki.ch Vie^.t Nam" la` o+? ddo'.
Nha^n di.p le^~ tu+o+?ng nie^.m To^?ng Tho^'ng Ngo^ DDi`nh Die^.m
Ottawa, tha'ng 9, 1999
To^n Tha^'t Thie^.n
________________
Ghi chu':
[1] New York, Charles Scribner & Sons, 1985.
[2] New York and Oxford, Oxford University Press,
1987.
[3] New York, Harper & Row, 1965.
[4] Athens and London, The University of Georgia
Press, 1997.
[5] New Haven and London, Yale University Press,
1995.
[6] Tu+` dda^y to+? ddi ta^'t ca? ca'c dda.n tri'ch
tu+` sa'ch cu?a Gia'o Su+ Winters chi? mang so^' trang.
[7] Kenneth P.O'Donnell and David F.Powers with Joe
McCarthy: Johnny, We Hardly Know Yee, Boston, Toronto, Little Brown and
Company, 1972, p.16
[8] Robert Kennedy's interview by John Bartlow
Martin, April 30, 1964, cited by Hammer. See also Frederick Nolting,