WILLIAM WESTMORELAND
(William Childs Westmoreland)
The Vietnam War did not appear to be going well for the United States. Congressman Murtha and a few other members of Congress asked the Commanding General what Congress should do in its oversight role. One problem is that most members of Congress took Westmoreland’s advice. It turned out that the military was fabricating statistics to show a more favorable outcome, and although the military could and did win any particular battle, the South Vietnamese Regime we were supporting was inept and corrupt, and we were making little strategic progress in the war. Congressional patience was later blamed by many for allowing the war effort to bog down and deteriorate with little or no oversight. At the time the statement was made, this was not a significant quotation. It became more important in the light of what happened. It was then heavily quoted in the Iraq war where the administration counseled Congressional and public patience although significant progress was not being made.
William Childs Westmoreland was a United States Army general, most notably commander of United States forces during the Vietnam War from 1964 to 1968. He served as Chief of Staff of the United States Army from 1968 to 1972.
