Path to War Page #11

And we could lose the support

of Canada,

Japan and the Chinese representation

issue at the UN.

If a Russian ship is sunk,

we just don't know.

The Chinese may send in troops,

but as Bus said, this could end it.

What if it doesn't?

What if by God's grace we don't have

a million Chinese and nuclear war,

but they still won't quit?

What will you be askin me

to hit next?

Strategic targets closer

to the center of Hanoi.

The Paul Doumer Bridge,

four major rail lines cross it.

The power plant, industry,

all within five miles of downtown.

Bob, are you for this?

It might work.

So you're for it.

Uh, Mr. President?

Walt?

Since taking over for Mac Bundy,

I've had a chance to evaluate

our bombing policy and I uh,

well,

I believe that our continued delay

in attacking Hanoi is causing Russia

and China to underestimate

our resolve

and that that may actually encourage

World War III.

Clark?

As always, I support any measure

that has a chance of ending this.

Anyone else? George? Nothin to add?

This will not affect

North Vietnamese manpower,

which has proved to be limitless.

It will be hard for the Russians

and the Chinese to take,

I'm concerned as always about

the escalating level of violence,

but maybe this will finally satisfy

the hawks in Congress.

If we have to do it,

let's do it now.

You know, George, you remind me

of a country schoolteacher,

asked if he believes

the world is flat or round,

he says, I can teach it either way.

How soon do we go?

This is the same as mine, you know.

I just as soon forget

about those thirteen days.

He had them made

at Tiffany's didn't he?

He gave one to Jackie, too.

She joked it's the only thing

he ever gave her

from there that wasn't ordered

straight out of their catalog.

A trying time.

You speak as if it's in the past.

What?

The trying time.

Here you go.

...Johnson wasn't much

of a poker player

but he loved the political

conversation.

Can a whiskey convert a man, Clark?

Look at them.

You know what they remind me of?

A flock of buzzards sittin

on a fence discussing

the price of carrion.

Buzzards.

George.

You could have had Bundy's job.

What was it, Clark?

You haven't socked away

enough dough yet?

Oh, no, that's unbecoming of you,

George.

The basement office? What?

You know I'd lose my freedom

to advice him on his Presidency

if I took a cabinet post.

George, the President wants

to get out of Vietnam

just as much as you do, in principle.

Principle?

There's a word that's been tossed

about more than a dollar whore

in a port of call.

How's this for principle:

what a waste.

You know who said that?

No.

McNamara.

To me.

For all the principle around here

we're in one hell of a mess,

don't you think?

Look at him. His wife's got an ulcer,

his kid's got an ulcer,

everybody's got Bob McNamara's

ulcer but Bob McNamara.

Sometimes I think it's all just

a god damn academic exercise to him.

George. You mustn't give up on this,

George.

Oh, Christ, Clark.

Marny.

Good evening, Mr. and Mrs.

Clifford how are you.

I'd like you to meet Charles Rob.

Clark Clifford.

Anyone who still thinks we ought to

be in Vietnam

should take a detour from work

and drive by Arlington

Cemetery every day for a week.

I don't think I'd trust anyone

in a policymaking position

who'd do that.

Who did what, Bob? Who faced

the consequences of his counsel?

Who needed a reminder of

what war was all about?

A reminder of what? Our jobs

in World War II, in the rear?

I pushed paper just like you, Walt.

We were all too damn smart.

I must've been sittin

on my brains then up in that B-25.

Two years in prison camps.

That's right, Nick's the only one

here who saw combat.

And you were probably pickin

his targets, Walt.

As I remember, we won that war.

Yeah, well, you can tell that

to the 50,000 dead men,

women and children of Dresden.

Dresden...

Is anyone ready for dinner?

Dresden was bombed for the rail lines.

Dresden was bombed to terrorize

the hell out of those people,

which is precisely what our B-52s

are doing in Vietnam.

And if this keeps up, in another year,

we'll have dropped more there

than on all of Europe.

Isn't that right, Bob?

Let's go inside, darling.

Isn't that what you told me

the other day? In private?

Among some other things.

Such as the fact that we've destroyed

so much of that country

they can't even grow enough rice

to feed themselves,

the rice bowl of the world.

George.

We've created so many refugees

that if we had the same proportion

out of their homes in this country,

there d be thirty-million people

on the streets.

Isn't that right? Bob?

Isn't that what you said?

What was it Tacitus said

about the Romans at Carthage?

You have made a desert

and call it peace.

If you still can't reach him then

get whosever on call,

we need a doctor here.

Christ, Marny.

I'll be all right. It was the liqueur

Hello?

Mr. Secretary,

it's Major Wolfson

at the Command Center.

We just got a call from CINCPAC

saying the weather around

Hanoi has cleared

and the fighter-bombers

are on their way.

Bob, it's me.

Mr. President, the operations

we discussed will be going tonight.

They have perfect conditions.

Bob, Bob these, these, these pilots

are said to be the cream.

They're the best the Navy

and Air Force have, Mr. President,

and they know you're counting on them

All right, Bob. Thank you.

I'm going to the Pentagon now,

I'll call as soon as I have word,

Mr. President.

Thank you.

Forgive me for ventilating so freely.

I believe that you are only

so worried

because you feel foolish

having waited so long

to take this action.

If, if you did it a year ago,

instead of using kid gloves

and giving them an extra month

in which to resupply,

it would have followed quite naturally

but now it seems to you like one

step too many.

The problem is, my good sir,

each step has been inches instead

of yards.

We have been going to war by inches!

Tip-toeing apologetically

when we should be striding through

with our heads held high

like Americans!

Why aren't we hearin from em!?

Yes, Bob.

Mr. President, they had some weather.

You said it was clear!

I'll call you the moment

I know anything.

Bob, my life's in your hands here.

Yes, sir.

Our Father...

Our Father...

Our Father...

Who art in heaven,

Who art in heaven,

Hallowed be thy name...

Hallowed be thy name...

Well, if you admit her

you could run some tests on her,

can't you, goddamnit, I mean...

Secretary, Exec-con on one.

You can see there that she's in

a hell of a lot of pain.

Thy kingdom come.

Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done...

I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

On earth.

On earth.

On earth.

As it is in heaven.

As it is in heaven.

Give us this day...

Give us this day...

Our daily bread...

Our daily bread...

And forgive us our trespasses.

And forgive us our trespasses.

As we forgive those

who trespass against us.

As we forgive those

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