co tong thong ngo dinh diem - cuoc dao chanh

co tong thong ngo dinh diem - cuoc dao chanh TAI` LIE^.U SU+? (FACT): CUO^C DDA?O CHA'NH A'M SA'T TT NGO^ DDI`NH DIE^.M NA(M 1963 ! "...Che^' ddo^. na`y co`n nhie^`u khuye^'t ddie^?m, cu~ng co`n ho+n nhie^`u che^' dd kha'c\. Ngu+o+`i ta che^ la` ddc ta`i, nhu+ng chi? nga.i co`n nhu+~ng thu+' ddo^.c ta`i khu?ng hie^'p ho+n\... To^i tie^'n thi` theo to^i, to^i lu`i thi` ba('n to^i\. To^i che^'t thi` tra? thu` cho to^i. (Lo+`i Ngo^ DDi`nh Die^.m trong ba`i die^~n va(n Quo^'c Kha'nh cuo^'i cu`ng 26/10/63)" [DDoa`n The^m, Nhu+~ng Nga`y Chu+a Que^n, trang 103]\. Nga`y 1/11/1963, mo^.t cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh ba(`ng qua^n su+. dda~ bu`ng no^? ta.i Sa`igon\. DDe^. nha^'t co^.ng ho`a bi. la^.t ddo^? va` TT Ngo^ DDi`nh Die^.m bi. gie^'t\. Nhie^`u ngu+o+`i go.i bie^'n co^' na`y la` mo^.t cuo^.c ta.o pha?n, va` go.i ca'c tu+o+'ng dda?o cha'nh la` bo.n pha?n loa.n\. Theo tho+`i gian, nhu+~ng tu+` ngu+~ ta.o pha?n, pha?n loa.n a(n sa^u va`o ta^m tu+ ngu+o+`i da^n, va` ba^y gio+` dda~ ddi va`o ta^m tu+ li.ch su+?\. Tha^.t ra, cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh na`o ma` kho^ng pha?i la` mo^.t cuo^.c ta.o pha?n \? Bo+?i le~: cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh na`o ma` cha(?ng ba^'t ho+.p pha'p, khi no' du`ng vu~ lu+.c dde^? xo'a bo? mo^.t chi'nh quye^`n \? Vi` va^.y, ngu+o+`i ta kho^ng ca(n cu+' tre^n khi'a ca.nh ho+.p pha'p dde^? phe^ pha'n mo^.t cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh, ma` ca(n cu+' tre^n mo^.t khi'a ca.nh cao ho+n: tu+'c la` khi'a ca.nh cha'nh dda'ng, dde^? phe^ pha'n mo^.t cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh\. Nhu+ chu'ng ta dda~ bie^'t: chu? quye^`n quo^'c gia kho^ng pha?i la` cu?a rie^ng mo^.t ca' nha^n hoa(.c mo^.t do`ng ho., ma` la` cu?a nha^n da^n\. Vi` va^.y, khi ngu+o+`i la~nh dda.o to? ra ba^t xu+'ng hoa(.c thie^'u ta^`m vo'c, nha^n da^n co' quye^`n va` co' bo^?n pha^.n pha?i thay ddo^?i ngu+o+`i la~nh dda.o. Thay ddo^?i ba(`ng la' phie^'u\. Trong nhu+~ng tru+o+`ng ho+.p dda(.c bie^.t, thay ddo^?i ba(`ng su'ng dda.n, tu+'c la` dda?o cha'nh\. DDa^y cu~ng la` mo^.t hi`nh thu+'c xu+? du.ng chu? quye^`n quo^'c gia cu?a ngu+o+`i da^n\. Li.ch su+? kho^ng bao gio+` tie^n thie^n le^n a'n no', va` no' ddu+o+.c suy ddoa'n la` cha'nh dda'ng, nghi~a la`: "ho+.p ti`nh tu+. da^n to^.c va` ho+.p hu+o+'ng ddi cu?a li.ch su+?"\. Nhu+ng mo^.t cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh chi? ddu+o+.c coi la` cha'nh dda'ng, (ho+.p ti`nh tu+. da^n to^.c, ho+.p hu+o+'ng ddi cu?a li.ch su+?), ne^'u no' dda~ do nha^n da^n trong nu+o+'c chu? xu+o'ng, pha't ddo^.ng, va` nha(`m phu.c vu. quye^`n lo+.i cu?a quo^'c gia da^n to^.c\. Tra'i la.i, no' se~ kho^ng ddu+o+.c coi la` cha'nh dda'ng, ne^'u no' dda~ do ngoa.i bang chu? xu+o+'ng, pha't ddo^.ng, va` nha(`m phu.c vu. mu+u ddo^` cu?a ngoa.i bang\. DDo' chi'nh la` tru+o+`ng ho+.p cu?a bie^'n co^' 1963\. Bie^'n co^' na`y dda~ do ngoa.i bang chu? xu+o+'ng va` pha't ddo^.ng\. Nghie^m tro.ng ho+n, bie^'n co^' a^'y dda~ ddem la.i ddo^? vo+~ cho quo^'c gia mie^`n Nam\. Chu'ng ta se~ kho^ng duye^.t la.i nhu+~ng gi` dda~ xa?y ra sau cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh 1963\. Mo^.t mie^`n Nam ho^~n loa.n, mo^.t quo^'c gia ma^'t chu? quye^`n, ma^'t ky? cu+o+ng\. Ba cuo^.c binh bie^'n trong tho+`i gian hai na(m: binh bie^'n nga`y 31/1/64, binh bie^'n 13/9/64 va` binh bie^'n nga`y 19/2/65\. Sa'u chi'nh phu? no^'i tie^'p nhau trong tho+`i gian hai na(m: chi'nh phu? Nguye^~n Ngo.c Tho+, chi'nh phu? Nguye^~n Kha'nh, chi'nh phu? Nguye^~n Xua^n Oa'nh, chi'nh phu? Tra^`n va(n Hu+o+ng, chi'nh phu? Phan Huy Qua't, va` chi'nh phu? Nguye^~n Cao Ky`, nhu+~ng tu+o+'ng ta' ba^'t ta`i va` thie^'u pha^?m ca'ch, coi quo^'c gia nhu+ mo^.t chie^'n lo+.i pha^?m\. Nhu+~ng Nguye^~n Kha'nh he^'t ca.o ra^u ro^`i ca.o lo^ng, the^` tho^'t mu'a may quay cuo^`ng, la`m nhu.c quo^'c the^?\. Nhu+~ng cuo^.c xuo^'ng ddu+o+`ng ba^'t ta^.n: ngu+o+`i xuo^'ng ddu+o+`ng, ba`n tho+` xuo^'ng ddu+o+`ng\. Nhu+~ng qua^n nha^n no^?i loa.n, qua^n ddo^.i ghi`m su'ng tru+o+'c qua^n ddo^.i\. Trong ca?nh ho^~n mang ddo', ngu+o+`i li'nh My~ ddo^? va`o mie^`n Nam ca`ng nga`y ca`ng nhie^`u\. Te^. ddoan xa~ hi, ddi~ ddie^'m, ca^`n sa, ba.ch phie^'n, bu+o+'c nhi.p theo nhu+~ng go't cha^n ngoa.i bang tre^n mo^.t ma?nh dda^'t kho^ng chu? quye^`n\.... Chu'ng ta kho^ng duye^.t xe't la.i nhu+~ng gi` dda~ xa?y ra sau cuc dda?o cha'nh\. Chu'ng ta chi? duye^.t la.i nhu+~ng gi` dda~ xa?y ra tru+o+'c cuc dda?o cha'nh, dde^? chu+'ng minh mt ddie^?m sau dda^y: cuc dda?o cha'nh nga`y 1/11/1963 dda~ do ngoa.i bang chu? mu+u va` chu? ddng, ca'c tu+o+'ng la~nh VN chi? la` nhu+~ng tay sai ba?n xu+' ! LY' CU?A KE? MA.NH O^ng Die^.m dda~ pha.m mo^.t to^.i lo+'n: ddo^'i vo+'i My~, o^ng dda~ da'm xu+? su+. nhu+ to^?ng tho^'ng mo^.t quo^'c gia co' chu? quye^`n\. Nhu+~ng su+. vie^.c sau dda^y dda~ chu+'ng minh ddie^`u ddo'\. Su+. vie^.c thu+' nha^'t: Vu. My~ mang qua^n chie^'n dda^'u va`o VN\. Cho dde^'n nay, nhie^`u ngu+o+`i va^~n nghi~ ra(`ng: o^ng Die^.m dda~ cho^'ng la.i vie^.c My~ ddem qua^n chie^'n dda^'u va`o mie^`n Nam\. Su+. tha^.t kho^ng pha?i va^.y. Cuo^'i na(m 1961, nhu+~ng tha('ng lo+.i cu?a Ha` Ni va` Pathet La`o ta.i Ai Lao dda~ la`m cho ti`nh hi`nh DDo^ng Nam A' tro+? ne^n kha^?n tru+o+ng va` tru+.c tie^'p dde do.a mie^`n Nam\. O^ng Die^.m ra^'t muo^'n su+. co' ma(.t cu?a qua^n ddo^.i chie^'n dda^'u My~ ta.i mie^`n Nam, dda(.c bie^.t la` ta.i bie^n gio+'i Ai Lao va` vu`ng phi qua^n su+. Be^'n Ha?i. Su+. co' ma(.t a^'y se~ mang gi'a tri. tu+o+.ng tru+ng no'i le^n quye^'t ta^m cu?a My~ trong vie^.c ba?o ve^. mie^`n Nam nhu+ ngu+o+`i My~ dda~ tu+`ng cam ke^'t\. O^ng Die^.m mong muo^'n chi'nh quye^`n Kennedy gu+?i qua^n chie^'n dda^'u sang mie^`n Nam dde^? giu'p nha^n da^n mie^`n Nam cho^'ng la.i hie^?m ho.a CS nga`y ca`ng gia ta(ng\. Nhu+ng o^ng Die^.m e nga.i mo^.t ddie^`u: ngu+o+`i My~ co' the^? bo? ro+i mie^`n Nam ba^'t cu+' lu'c na`o. O^ng cu~ng kho^ng muo^'n ngu+o+`i My~ ddo^? qua^n va`o mie^`n Nam nhu+ va`o mo^.t mie^`n dda^'t bi. chie^'m ddo'ng va` ma^'t chu? quye^`n\. O^ng muo^'n co' mt su+. cam ke^'t chi'nh thu+'c tre^n gia^'y to+` cu?a ngu+o+`i My~\. O^ng muo^'n ngu+o+`i My~ ky' mo^.t hie^.p u+o+'c pho`ng thu? song phu+o+ng vo+'i VN, nhu+ My~ dda~ tu+`ng ky' vo+'i DDa.i Ha`n\. Chi'nh su+. ddo`i ho?i na`y dda~ la` mo^.t trong nhu+~ng ma^`m xung ddo^.t giu+~a chi'nh quye^`n Kennedy va` chi'nh quye^`n o^ng Die^.m\. Quye^?n “Kenedy in Viet Nam”, mo^.t trong nhu+~ng ta`i lie^.u ddu+o+.c coi la` chi'nh xa'c, vo^ tu+ va` su'c ti'ch nha^'t, dda~ ke^? la.i cuo^.c dda`m dda.o giu+~a TT Ngo^ DDi`nh Die^.m va` pha'i ddoa`n Taylor cu?a TT Kenedy nhu+ sau: "Die^.m cho pha'i ddoa`n bie^'t ra(`ng nha^n da^n VN ra^'t lo nga.i ve^` vie^.c kho^ng co' su+. cam ke^'t chi'nh thu+'c cu?a Hoa Ky` ddo^'i vo+'i mie^`n Nam quo^'c gia\. Nha^n da^n VN e nga.i ra(`ng HK se~ bo? ro+i ho. Trong suo^'t cuo^.c dda`m dda.o, kho^ng mo^.t la^`n na`o o^ng Die^.m tru+.c tie^'p ye^u ca^`u My~ gu+?i qua^n chie^'n dda^'u sang VN\. Theo tu+o+'ng Taylor, o^ng Die^.m tra'nh ne' va^'n dde^`, cho dde^'n khi buo^?i die^.n kie^'n ga^`n ke^'t thu'c o^ng ta mo+'i ddi va`o va^'n dde^` Pha'i ddoa`n My~ ro+`i pho`ng ho.p vo+'i ca?m tuo+?ng ra(`ng vi. to^?ng cu?a mie^`n Nam VN muo^'n co' mo^.t hie^.p u+o+'c pho`ng thu? vo+'i HK, va` muo^'n co' nhu+~ng su+?a soa.n cho vie^.c ddo^? qua^n va`o mie^`n Nam, ne^'u ca^`n" (Kennedy In Vietnam, William J\. Rust & The Editors of US News Books, Charles Scribners Sons, NY, p.46-47)\. Su+. vie^.c thu+' hai: Vu. ngu+o+`i My~ muo^'n xen va`o no^.i bo^. VN\. Tha'ng 11 na(m 1961, bo^. ngoa.i giao My~ dda'nh ddie^.n ma^.t cho dda.i su+' Nolting bie^'t "quye^'t ddi.nh kho^ng tho?a thua^.n cu?a chi'nh quye^`n Kennedy trong vie^.c gu+?i qua^n chie^'n dda^'u My~ sang VN"\. Bu+'c ddie^.n ti'n cu~ng cho dda.i su+' Nolting bie^'t ra(`ng "o^ng Die^.m pha?i thu+.c hie^.n nhu+~ng cuo^.c ca?i to^? tha^.t su+. tre^n la~nh vu+.c ha`nh cha'nh, chi'nh tri. va` xa~ ho^.i" (Telegram 619, State to Saigon, ddu+o+.c tri'ch da^~n trong Kennedy In Vietnam, trang 52-53) Theo nhu+~ng ta`i lie^.u dda'ng tin ca^.y, thi` TT Kennedy quye^'t ddi.nh kho^ng gu+?i li'nh chie^'n dda^'u My~ sang VN, vi` nhie^`u ly' do\. Nhu+ng, ly' do quan tro.ng nha^'t, va^~n la`: My~ kho^ng muo^'n co' mo^.t hie^.p u+o+'c pho`ng thu? song phu+o+ng vo+'i VN, cu~ng nhu+ My~ kho^ng muo^'n coi vie^.c gu+?i li'nh chie^'n dda^'u My~ sang VN nhu+ la` su+. thi ha`nh mo^.t hie^.p u+o+'c\. My~ co`n ddi xa ho+n the^' nu+~a\. Cha(?ng nhu+~ng kho^ng muo^'n bi. ra`ng buc bo+?i mo^.t hie^.p u+o+'c song phu+o+ng, My~ co`n muo^'n xen va`o no^.i bo^. VN\. ho. muo^'n ddu+o+.c "chia se~ tra'ch nhie^.m vo+'i chi'nh quye^`n VN trong vie^.c pha'c hoa.ch nhu+~ng quye^'t ddi.nh lie^n quan dde^'n ca'c la~nh vu+.c chi'nh tri., kinh te^' va` qua^n su+., khi ti`nh hi`nh an ninh ddo`i ho?i"\. Tru+o+'c ddo', tu+'c la` sau cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh cu?a dda.i ta' Nguye^~n Cha'nh Thi (11/11/1960), toa` Ba.ch O^'c dda~ co' la^`n dde^` nghi. nhu+ va^.y. Nhu+ng dda.i su+' Nolting dda~ cho^'ng la.i y' kie^'n na`y. O^ng cho ra(`ng: "vie^.c ngu+o+`i My~ tru+.c tie^'p tham du+. va`o vie^.c pha'c hoa.ch nhu+~ng quye^'t ddi.nh cu?a mie^`n Nam VN, se~ bi. o^ng Die^.m va` da^n chu'ng mie^`n Nam coi nhu+ la` mo^.t su+. trao nhu+o+.ng chi'nh quye^`n cho ngu+o+`i My~"\. Tha'ng 11/61, dda.i su+' Nolting ddu+o+.c chi? thi. cu?a to`a Ba.ch O^'c va`o ga(.p o^ng Die^.m\. O^ng Die^.m dde^` ca^.p ngay dde^'n va^'n dde^` qua^n ddi chie^'n dda^'u My~ DDa.i su+' Nolting tra? lo+`i mo^.t ca'ch tie^.u cu+.c, ro^`i ddi ngay va`o va^'n dde^` "chia se~ tra'ch nhie^.m"\. O^ng Die^.m dda~ tra? lo+`i nhu+ sau: "Cha('c o^ng dda.i su+' cu~ng hie^?u, nhu+~ng dde^` nghi. a^'y ddu.ng cha.m to+'i va^'n dde^` tra'ch nhie^.m cu?a chi'nh quye^`n VN, VN kho^ng muo^'n la` mo^.t xu+' bi. ba?o ho^."\. Nguye^n va(n: Viet Nam does not want to be a protectorate (Kennedy in Viet Nam, trang 54)\. Kho^ng dda^`y mo^.t tua^`n le^~ sau cuc ga(.p go+~ giu+~a dda.i su+' Nolting va` TT Die^.m, ba'o chi' Saigon (cu?a chi'nh phu?) nha^'t loa.t le^n tie^'ng dda? ki'ch My~ dda~ can thie^.p va`o no^.i bo^. VN\. Su+. vie^.c na`y dda`o sa^u the^m ho^' nghi ngo+` giu+~a Hoa Ky` va` Saigon\. Ma(.c du` va^.y, chi'nh quye^`n Kennedy va^~n tie^'p tu.c u?ng ho^. TT Die^.m\. Nga`y 27/11/1961, TT Kennedy chi? thi. cho dda.i su+' Nolting va`o ga(.p TT Die^.m dde^? gia?i to?a nhu+~ng hie^?u la^`m\. Trong cuo^.c tie^'p xu'c na`y, o^ng Die^.m va^~n cho^'ng ddo^'i nhu+~ng ddo`i ho?i chia se~ chu? quye^`n cu?a My~, nhu+ng dda~ to? ra co+?i mo+? ho+n\. Tha'ng 12 na(m ddo', My~ gia ta(ng vie^.n tro+. qua^n su+. cho VN\. Hie^?n nhie^n, TT Kennedy kho^ng muo^'n tha^'t ba.i ta.i mie^`n Nam, va` so+. a?nh hu+o+?ng xa^'u, ddo^'i ngoa.i cu~ng nhu+ ddo^'i no^.i. O^ng dda~ tha^'t ba.i qu'a nhie^`u ro^`i: vu. vi.nh Con Heo ta.i Cu Ba na(m 1961, va` vu. Ai Lao na(m 1961\. Nhie^`u ngu+o+`i vi ke^'t lua^.n ra(`ng: My~ se~ cha(?ng bao gio+` da'm bo? mie^`n Nam\. Co' le~ anh em o^ng Die^.m cu~ng o+? trong so^' nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i ddo' \? Su+. vie^.c thu+' ba: Vu. hie^.p u+o+'c Geneve 1962 va` Ai Lao. Mu`a xua^n na(m 1962, qua^n ddi Ba('c Vie^.t va` Pathet La`o chie^'m ca(n cu+' Nam Tha, mo+? ddu+o+`ng tie^'n sang nhu+~ng thi. tra^'n gia'p gio+'i Mie^'n DDie^.n va` Tha'i Lan\. Ti`nh hi`nh DDo^ng Du+o+ng tro+? ne^n cu+.c ky` kha^?n tru+o+ng\. TT Kennedy dde^` nghi. dde^'n chuye^.n ddem DDe^. Tha^'t Ha.m DDi va`o vi.nh Tha'i Lan\. Tha'ng 5 na(m a^'y, To`a Ba.ch O^'c cha^'p thua^.n vie^.c gu+?i mt so^' ddo+n vi. Lu.c qua^n va` Kho^ng qua^n sang Tha'i lan, dde^? da(`n ma(.t Ba('c Vie^.t\. Quye^'t ddi.nh na`y dda~ khie^'n Ba('c Vie^.t pha?i ta.m chu`n bu+o+'c\. Mo^.t chi'nh phu? lie^n hie^.p ba phe ra ddo+`i ta.i Va.n Tu+o+.ng, du+o+'i su+. la~nh dda.o cu?a o^ng hoa`ng trung la^.p Phouma, va` hie^.p ddi.nh Geneve va` Ai Lao ddu+o+.c ky' ke^'t\. DDa^y la` gia?i pha'p ma` TT Kennedy ra^'t ta'n tha`nh va` no^`ng nhie^.t ba?o tro+.\. O^ng nghi~ ra(`ng hie^.p ddi.nh na`y se~ ddem la.i the^' qua^n bi`nh chi'nh tri. ta.i Ai Lao, ddo^`ng tho+`i nga(n cha^.n bu+o+'c tie^'n hung ha~n cu?a CS Ba('c Vie^.t va` Pathet La`o ta.i DDo^ng Nam A'\. Nhu+ng, gai go'c la.i mo.c le^n\. TT Die^.m pha?n ddo^'i, va` do.a se~ kho^ng ky' va`o ba?n hie^.p ddi.nh\. TT Die^.m cho ra(`ng hie^.p u+o+'c a^'y tru+.c tie^'p dde do.a an ninh cu?a mie^`n Nam va` mo+? ddu+o+`ng cho vie^.c trung la^.p ho'a mie^`n Nam\. O^ng cho bie^'t o^ng chi? ky' va`o hie^.p ddi.nh, ne^'u chi'nh phu? lie^n hie^.p ba phe ta.i Va.n Tu+o+.ng cam ke^'t se~ kho^ng la^.p quan he^. ngoa.i giao vo+'i Ha` No^.i. DDa.i su+' Nolting la.i pha?i ca^'p to^'c va`o dinh DDc La^.p, trao cho TT Die^.m bu+'c thu+ rie^ng cu?a TT Kennedy ddoan quye^'t ra(`ng "La~nh tho^? Ai Lao se~ kho^ng ddu+o+.c su+? du.ng nhu+ mo^.t ca(n cu+' dde^? can thie^.p ba(`ng qua^n su+. va` khuynh dda?o ca'c nu+o+'c la'ng gie^`ng" (Telegram 28, State to Saigon, july 9, 1962, Bos 128, Presidential Office Fies, John F\. Kennedy Library, dduo+.c tri'ch da^~n trong "Kennedy In Viet Nam, trang 76) Sau khi nha^.n ddu+o+.c bu+'c thu+ ddoan quye^'t cu?a TT Kennedy, TT Die^.m mo+'i chi.u ky' va`o ba?n hie^.p ddi.nh, cu`ng vo+'i 13 quo^'c gia kha'c\. Va` ky' mo^.t ca'ch ga^`n nhu+ mie^~n cu+o+~ng\. Su+. vie^.c thu+' bo^'n: Vu. CIA va` lu+.c lu+o+.ng dda(.c bie^.t My~\. DDa^`u na(m 1962, TT Kennedy cha'nh thu+'c cho tha`nh la^.p nho'm DDa(.c Bie^.t cho^'ng no^?i da^.y (counter insurgency, vie^'t ta('t C.I) dda(.t du+o+'i quye^`n cu?a dda.i tu+o+'ng Taylor, to^?ng tham mu+u tru+o+?ng lie^n qua^n Hoa Ky`\. Nho'm DDa(.c Bie^.t co' nhie^.m vu. chu? dda.o va` tie^'n ha`nh cuc chie^'n tranh cho^'ng no^?i da^.y, mo^.t hi`nh tha'i chie^'n tranh kho^ng quy u+o+'c, pho^'i ho+.p tu+. ve^. va` co^ng da^n vu., nha(`m tie^u die^.t CS ngay ta.i no^ng tho^n va` tranh thu? nha^n ta^m cho chi'nh quye^`n quo^'c gia\. Tru+o+'c ddo', na(m 1961, co+ quan CIA cu~ng dda~ tha`nh la^.p nhu+~ng lu+.c lu+o+.ng Tu+. Ve^. ngu+o+`i Thu+o+.ng, va` trang ba(`ng su'ng tu+. ddo^.ng\. Vo+'i su+. giu'p do+` ky~ thua^.t va` vo+'i su+. hua^'n luye^.n cu?a Lu+.c Lu+o+.ng DDa(.c Bie^.t My~, nhu+~ng lu+.c lu+o+.ng na`y ba`nh tru+o+'ng ra^'t nhanh\. khoa?ng tha'ng 3/1962, lu+.c lu+o+.ng dda~ le^n to+'i ga^`n 40 nga`n ngu+o+`i. Di~ nhie^.n, hoa.t ddo^.ng cu?a CIA, cu?a nho'm CI, cu?a Lu+.c Lu+o+.ng DDa(.c Bie^.t My~ va` cu?a lu+.c lu+o+.ng Tu+. Ve^. ngu+o+`i Thu+o+.ng, kho^ng ddu+o+.c su+. ta'n tha`nh cu?a o^ng Die^.m\. O^ng Die^.m coi ddo nhu+ mo^.t su+. xa^m pha.m chu? quye^`n quo^'c gia mie^`n Nam\. O^ng va` ngu+o+`i em o^ng la` Ngo^ ddi`nh Nhu dda~ nhie^`u la^`n le^n tie^'ng co^ng khai pha`n na`n\. Ba'o chi' Saigon (cu?a chi'nh phu?) ho^`i ddo' tra`n nga^.p nhu+~ng lua^.n ddie^.u dda? ki'ch My~ xa^m pha.m chu? quye^`n VN\. Nhu+~ng su+. vie^.c no'i tre^n dda~ khie^'n TT Kennedy kho^ng ha`i lo`ng\. Cha(?ng nhu+~ng kho^ng ha`i lo`ng, ma` co`n bu+.c bo^.i\. Nhu+ng co' nhu+~ng ke? co`n bu+.c bo^.i ho+n TT Kennedy. DDo' la` ca'c co^' va^'n cu?a o^ng ta.i to`a Ba.ch O^'c\. Nhu+ chu'ng ta dde^`u bie^'t: John F\. Kennedy la` mo^.t vi. to^?ng tho^'ng co' me^ lu+.c tru+o+'c qua^`n chu'ng, nhu+ng ba?n ti'nh la.i do du+., thie^'u cu+o+ng quye^'t va` de^~ thay ddo^?i y' kie^'n\. Ca'c co^' va^'n cu?a o^ng ta.i to`a Ba.ch O^'c dda~ trie^.t dde^? khai tha'c nhu+o+.c ddie^?m na`y. Trong nhie^`u vu., ho. dda~ da^~n da('t o^ng ta nhu+ mo^.t ddu+'a tre? ni't\. Vu. vi.nh Con Heo na(m 1960, vu. Ai Lao na(m 1962 va` vu. VN na(m 1963 sau na`y la` nhu+~ng thi' du. ddie^?n hi`nh\. Vi` va^.y, mo^~i khi o^ng Die^.m cho^'ng la.i mo^.t dde^` nghi. hoa(.c mo^.t quye^'t ddi.nh cu?a TT Kennedy, ngu+o+`i ca?m tha^'y danh du+. bi. xu'c pha.m ho+n ca?, kho^ng pha?i la` TT Kennedy, ma` la` co^' va^'n cu?a o^ng\. Bo+?i mo^.t le~ de^? hie^?u: chi'nh ho. la` nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i dda~ soa.n tha?o hoa(.c dde^. tri`nh nhu+~ng quye^'t ddi.nh ddo'\. Trong nhu+~ng co^' va^'n tha^n ca^.n cu?a TT Kennedy, co' Roger Hillsman va` Averell Harriman la` hung ha~n nha^'t\. Hai ngu+o+`i na`y kho^ng cha^'p nha^.n ra(`ng to^?ng tho^'ng cu?a mo^.t quo^'c gia nhu+o+.c tie^?u ddang a(n ma`y vie^.n tro+. cu?a My~, la.i ddu+o+.c phe'p xu+? su+. nhu+ to^?ng tho^'ng mo^.t quo^'c gia co' chu? quye^`n\. Ca'i ly dda~ dda^y`, chi? ca^`n mo^.t cu.c dda' la.nh nho? be' la` tra`n\. Cu.c dda' la.nh ddo' dda~ ddu+o+.c ta.o ra ddu'ng lu'c\. DDo' la` vu. Pha^.t gia'o 1963\. Co' the^? no'i ra(`ng: ne^'u kho^ng co' nhu+~ng va cha.m chu? quye^`n, nha^'t la` ne^'u o^ng Die^.m kho^ng xu+? su+. nhu+ to^?ng tho^'ng cu?a mo^.t quo^'c gia co' chu? quye^`n, thi` ca'i go.i la` vu. Pha^.t gia'o 1963 dda~ kho^ng xa?y ra. Va` ne^'u co' xa?y ra, thi` chi'nh quye^`n Kennedy cu~ng dda~ kho^ng pha?n u+'ng nhu+ dda~ pha?n u+'ng\. Co' the^? no'i ra(`ng: ne^'u anh em o^ng Die^.m bo+'t co^' cha^'p, bo+'i chu? quan va` bie^'t me^`m de?o mo^.t chu't - mo^.t su+. me^`m de?o co' lo+.i cho dda^'t nu+o+'c - thi` ngo.n lu+?a tu+. thie^u cu?a ho`a thu+o+.ng Thi'ch Qua?ng DDu+'c (TQDD) , du` ba~o to^' dde^'n ma^'y, cu~ng kho^ng gom ddu? su+'c e'p dde^? co' the^? dde` sa^.p mo^.t chi'nh quye^`n\. Ngu+o+`i My~ co' ly', hay o^ng Die^.m co' ly' \? Ngu+o+`i My~ co' ly' khi ddo`i ddo^? qua^n chie^'n dda^'u va`o mie^`n Nam ma` kho^ng bi. ra`ng buo^.c bo+?i mo^.t hie^.p u+o+'c pho`ng thu? song phu+o+ng \? Hay o^ng Die^.m co' ly' khi ddo`i cho quo^'c gia VN mt hie^.p u+o+'c pho`ng thu? song phu+o+ng \? Ngu+o+`i My~ co' ly' khi dda(.t chi'nh quye^`n VN tru+o+'c mo^.t su+. dda~ ro^`i, trong vu. hie^.p ddi.nh Geneve va` Ai Lao na(m 1962 \? Hay o^ng Die^.m co' ly' khi ddo`i pha?i co' nhu+~ng ba?o dda?m ca^`n thie^'t cho an ninh la~nh tho^? mie^`n Nam \? Ngu+o+`i My~ co' ly' khi cho CIA va` lu+.c lu+o+.ng DDa(.c Bie^.t My~ tha`nh la^.p nhu+~ng lu+.c lu+o+.ng tu+. ve^. rie^ng bie^.t, kho^ng ddu+o+.c su+. cha^'p thua^.n tru+o+'c cu?a chi'nh quye^`n VN \? Hay o^ng Die^.m co' ly' khi coi ddo' la` nhu+~ng ha`nh ddo^.ng xa^m pha.m chu? quye^`n VN va` cho^'ng la.i \? Chu'ng ta dda(.t ca^u ho?i, kho^ng pha?i dde^? ti`m kie^'m ai la` ngu+o+`i co' ly. Chu'ng ta chi? muo^'n chu+'ng minh mt su+. kie^.n: tru+o+'c khi vu. Pha^.t gia'o xa?y ra, giu+~a TT My~ va` TT Vie^.t Nam dda~ co' nhu+~ng mo^'i ba^'t ho`a, tu+` ngu+~ ngoa.i giao go.i la` "nhu+~ng hie^?u la^`m dda'ng tie^'c"\. Ca'c co^' va^'n to`a Ba.ch O^'c dda~ la`m cho nhu+~ng mo^'i ba^'t ho`a ddo' tro+? tha`nh nhu+~ng xung ddo^.t pha?i gia?i quye^'t ba(`ng su+'c ma.nh\. Ho. dda~ dda^?y TT Kennedy ddi to+'i ke^'t lua^.n sau dda^y: TT Ngo^ DDi`nh Die^.m la` mo^.t tro+? nga.i cho co^ng cuc pho`ng thu? ca'i ma` ho. go.i la` tie^`n ddo^`n cu?a the^' gio+'i tu+. do ta.i DDo^ng Nam A'!\. Ly' cu?a ke? ma.nh bao gio+` cu~ng tha('ng, du` tha('ng nhu+ mo^.t ke? vu~ phu va` tha('ng nha^'t tho+`i. Ca'i sai la^`m cu?a anh em o^ng Die^.m, ne^'u co', la` dda~ kho^ng nhi`n tha^'y cha^n ly' ddo'\. NHU+~NG BA(`NG CO+' TRE^N GIA^'Y TRA('NG MU+.C DDEN Nhu+~ng ho^~n loa.n ta.i mie^`n Trung sau nga`y Pha^.t dda?n mu`ng 8/5/1963, nhu+~ng ddo`i ho?i cu?a Pha^.t gia'o, su+. cha^.m cha.p cu?a chi'nh quye^`n trung u+o+ng trong vie^.c gia?i quye^'t va^'n dde^` Pha^.t gia'o, nhu+~ng vu. tuye^.t thu+.c cu?a ta(ng ni ta.i Saigon, nhu+~ng vu. bie^?u ti`nh cu?a sinh vie^n ho.c sinh ...vv...ta^'t ca? dda~ nha^.p cuo^.c dde^? ke^'t tu. tha`nh cu.c nu+o+'c dda' la.nh la`m tra`n ca'i ly. Chi'nh quye^`n Kennedy ba('t dda^`u lo nga.i cho sinh me^.nh cu?a tie^`n ddo^`n cho^'ng co^.ng mie^`n Nam\. Lu'c ddo', dda.i su+' Nolting ddi nghi? phe'p, su+' tha^`n William Trueheart ddu+o+.c le^.nh to`a Ba.ch O^'c pha?i buo^.c chi'nh quye^`n Ngo^ DDi`nh Die^.m ga^'p ru't tho?a ma~n 5 ddo`i ho?i cu?a Pha^.t gia'o. Nga`y 4/6/1963, Trueheart ga(.p o^ng Nguye^~n DDi`nh Thua^`n, bo^. tru+o+?ng phu? to^?ng tho^'ng, ca?nh ca'o ra(`ng: My~ se~ kho^ng the^? tie^'p tu.c u?ng ho^. chi'nh quye^`n Ngo^ DDi`nh Die^.m ne^'u chi'nh quye^`n Ngo^ DDi`nh Die^.m kho^ng tu+` bo? nhu+~ng ha`nh ddo^.ng "dda`n a'p dda^~m ma'u" nhu+ o+? Hue^'\. Nga`y 7/6/1963, ho^.i Phu. nu+~ Lie^n DDo+'i cu?a ba` Ngo^ DDi`nh Nhu pho^? bie^'n mo^.t ba?n nghi. quye^'t to^' ca'o ca'c vi. la~nh dda.o Pha^.t gia'o la` CS\. Ha`nh ddo^.ng thie^'u suy nghi~ na`y dda~ ddo^? the^m da^`u va`o lu+?a, va` ga^y kho' kha(n the^m cho TT Die^.m lu'c ddo' ddang o+? mo^.t ti`nh the^' cu+.c ky` kho' kha(n\. To`a Ba.ch O^'c be`n chi? thi. cho Trueheart pha?i va`o ga(.p o^ng Die^.m dde^? pha?n ddo^'i ve^` ha`nh ddo^.ng cu?a ba` Nhu\. Sau cuo^.c ga(.p go+~, Trueheart gu+?i phu'c tri`nh dde^` nga`y 11/6 ve^` Hoa Thi.nh DDo^'n, vo+'i nhu+~ng ke^'t lua^.n sau dda^y: Thu+' nha^'t: Kho^ng co' da^'u hie^.u ro~ re^.t la` ca'c vi. la~nh dda.o Pha^.t gia'o bi. a?nh hu+o+?ng CS\. Thu+' hai: ha`nh ddo^.ng cu?a ca'c vi. la~nh dda.o Pha^.t gia'o kho^ng pha?i la` kho^ng dda'ng tra'ch: ho. dda~ xu+? du.ng ba'o chi' ngoa.i quo^'c cho cuo^.c dda^'u tranh cu?a ho., va` mo^.t trong so^' bo.n ho. hy vo.ng se~ la^.t ddo^? chi'nh quye^`n Ngo^ DDi`nh Die^.m\. Thu+' ba: va^~n co`n co' co+ may ra(`ng chi'nh quye^`n Die^.m se~ gia?i quye^'t tho?a dda'ng va^'n dde^` Pha^.t gia'o (Telegram 1155, Saigon to State, June 11/1963, declassified by the Department of State, Jan 15, 1982, ddu+o+.c tri'ch da^~n trong Kennedy in Viet Nam, tr\. 97) Phu'c tri`nh Trueheart vu+`a gu+?i ddi, thi` cu`ng nga`y ddo', ho`a thu+o+.ng Thi'ch Qu?ang DDu+'c tu+. thie^u. DDa^y la` mo^.t ddo`n nga`n ca^n dda'nh va`o dda^`u chi'nh quye^`n Ngo^ DDi`nh Die^.m\. Ba'o chi' My~, truye^`n hi`nh My~, du+ lua^.n My~ va` cuo^'i cu`ng la` chi'nh quye^`n My~ nha^'t loa.t ke^'t lua^.n ra(`ng ta.i mie^`n Nam VN Pha^.t gia'o ddang bi. ba'ch ha.i. Tru+o+'c ddo', tu+` ngu+~ "ky` thi. to^n gia'o" ddu+o+.c xu+? du.ng\. Nhu+~ng sau vu. tu+. thie^u cu?a ho`a thu+o+.ng TQDD, thay tu+` ngu+~ "ba'ch ha.i to^n gia'o" hoa(.c "dda`n a'p Pha^.t gia'o" ddu+o+ng nhie^n tro+? tha`nh tu+` ngu+~ chi'nh thu+'c dde^? no'i ve^` cuo^.c khu?ng hoa?ng Pha^.t gia'o ta.i VN\. Ngu+o+`i ta thu+o+`ng no'i to+'i ba mu+'c ddo^. ha`nh ddng ma` mo^.t chi'nh quye^`n hoa(.c mo^.t ta^.p quye^`n co' the^? co' ddo^'i vo+'i mo^.t chu?ng to^.c, mo^.t ta^.p the^?, hoa(.c mo^.t to^n gia'o. Ba mu+'c ddo^. ddo' la` ky` thi., dda`n a'p va` ba'ch ha.i. Ky` thi. (discrimination) la` ddo^'i xu+? thie^n le^.ch, coi be^n na`y ho+n be^n kia. The^' ky? 19 va` dda^`u the^' ky? 20, ta.i My~ co' quo^'c sa'ch ky` thi. chu?ng to^.c giu+~a ngu+o+`i da tra('ng va` ngu+o+`i da dden\. Ngu+o+`i da dden bi. lua^.t pha'p xe^'p ha.ng tha^'p ho+n ngu+o+`i da tra('ng, va` tre^n thu+.c te^' bi. ddo^'i xu+? nhu+ va^.y. Ho. kho^ng ddu+o+.c dda(.t cha^n va`o nhu+~ng ca^u la.c bo^. cu?a ngu+o+`i da tra('ng, kho^ng ddu+o+.c ddi chung toa xe lu+?a vo+'i ngu+o+`i da tra('ng, kho^ng ddu+o+.c ho.c nhu+~ng tru+o+`ng da`nh cho ngu+o+`i da tra('ng\. Ta.i VN, du. so^' 10 u+u dda~i co^ng gia'o va` cho co^ng gia'o nhu+~ng dda(.c quye^`n ma` Pha^.t gia'o kho^ng ddu+o+.c hu+o+?ng\. Hie^?n nhie^n tre^n phu+o+ng die^.n lua^.t pha'p, Pha^.t gia'o dda~ bi. ky` thi. \. Nhu+ng tre^n thu+.c te^', su+. ky` thi. - ne^'u co' - chi? ddu+o+.c ti`m tha^'y trong nhu+~ng tru+o+`ng ho+.p ba' bie^.t, no' kho^ng pha?i la` cha'nh sa'ch cu?a nha` ca^`m quye^`n\. Mu+'c ddo^. thu+' hai, sa('t the'p ho+n, la` dda`n a'p (repression)\. Tu+'c la` kie^?m soa't, kho^'ng che^' va` nga(n cha(.n kho^ng cho pha't trie^?n\. Ta.i My~ truo+'c dda^y, tre^n phu+o+ng die^.n lua^.t pha't va` tre^n thu+.c te^', co' na.n ky` thi. ngu+o+`i da dden\. Nhu+ng kho^ng co' na.n dda`n a'p ngu+o+`i da dden\. Ta.i VN, tre^n phu+o+ng die^.n lua^.t pha't cu~g nhu+ tre^n thu+.c te^', to^n gia'o kho^ng he^` bi. dda`n a'p, ngay ca? trong vu. Pha^.t gia'o 1963\. Mu+'c ddo^. thu+' ba, ta`n ba.o va` da~ man, la` ba'ch ha.i (persecution) tu+'c la` ca^'m ddoa'n, lu`ng ba('t, bo? tu` va` trie^.t ha. ba(`ng ba.o lu+.c\. Nga`y xu+a, thu+.c da^n Pha'p dda~ ba'ch ha.i VNQDD, va` ca'c nha` ca'ch ma.ng VN\. Tho+`i Vie^.t minh, bo.n CS Ho^` Chi' Minh dda~ ba'ch ha.i ngu+o+`i Quo^'c Gia. Tre^n la~nh vu+.c to^n gia'o, ba.o chu'a Neron cu?a La Ma~ nga`y xu+a dda~ ba'ch ha.i co^ng gia'o. Gia'o hu+~u bi. lu`ng ba('t, giam ca^`m, ha`nh ha., tra ta^'n, va` bi. gie^'t mo^.t ca'ch da~ man (nhu+ bi. ddo'ng ddinh tre^n tha^.p tu+., bi. lie^.ng va`o va.c da^`u so^i, bi. lu`a va`o dda^'u tru+o+`ng cho su+ tu+? xe' xa'c...vv..)\. Ta.i VN, tho+`i Minh Ma.ng, Thie^.u Tri., Tu+. DDu+'c, dda.o Gia To^ bi. vua quan ba'ch ha.i. Nha` tho+`i bi. ddo^'t pha', gia'o hu+~u va` gia'o si~ bi. lu`ng ba('t, bi. tra ta^'n va` bi. che'm ngang tha^y. Co' ngu+o+`i bi. cho^n so^'ng, co' ngu+o+`i bi. ne'm cho voi da`y. Na.n nha^n kho^ng pha?i chi? go^`m rie^ng mo^.t ngu+o+`i, ma` go^`m ta^'t ca? nhu+~ng "ngu+o+`i theo ta` dda.o"\. DDa^y la` mo^.t ve^'t nho+ cho li.ch su+? da^n to^.c ta\. Ngay tho+`i Vie^.t minh, cu~ng kho^ng co' hie^.n tu+o+.ng ddo'\. Vie^.t minh dda`n a'p to^n gia'o, CS dda`n a'p to^n gia'o, nhu+ng kho^ng da'm ngang nhie^n ba'ch ha.i to^n gia'o nhu+ ca'c vua quan trie^`u Nguye^~n nga`y xu+a dda~ ba'ch ha.i dda.o Gia To^\. Tro+? la.i cha'nh sa'ch cu?a cha'nh quye^`n Ngo^ DDi`nh Die^.m ddo^'i vo+'i Pha^.t gia'o. Tre^n phu+o+ng die^.n lua^.t pha'p, va` ddo^i khi tre^n thu+.c te^', Pha^.t gia'o bi. ky` thi Nhu+ng Pha^.t gia'o kho^ng he^` bi. dda`n a'p\. Chu+' ddu+`ng no'i dde^'n bi. ba'ch ha.i. Nhu+ng, sau vu. tu+. thie^u cu?a ho`a thu+o+.ng TQDD, thi` su+. vie^.c tro+? tha`nh vo^ nghi~a, va` thu+.c te^' cu~ng tro+? tha`nh vo^ nghi~a. Ngo.n lu+?a tu+. thie^u dda~ ddo^'t giai ddoa.n suy tu+ cu?a qua^`n chu'ng va` cu?a chi'nh quye^`n My~\. DDang la` mo^.t vu. "ky` thi. to^n gia'o", vu. Pha^.t gia'o dda~ bu+o+'c nha?y vo.t, tro+? tha`nh mo^.t vu. ba'ch ha.i to^n gia'o. Pha^.t gia'o dda~ bi. chi'nh quye^`n Ngo^ DDi`nh Die^.m ba'ch ha.i. Nhu+ nga`y xu+a co^ng gia'o dda~ bi. Neron ba'ch ha.i ta.i La Ma~\. Nhu+ nga`y xu+a dda.o Gia to^ bi. vua quan trie^`u Nguye^~n ba'ch ha.i ta.i VN\. Hi`nh a?nh mo^.t vi. ho`a thu+o+.ng ngo^`i kie^'t gi`a trong dda'm lu+?a la` hi`nh a?nh so^'ng ddo^.ng nha^'t trong du+ lua^.n ngu+o+`i My~ va` du+ lua^.n the^' gio+'i. Mo^.t so+'m mo^.t chie^`u, nhu+~ng "kha^?u hie^.p Pha^.t gia'o VN bi. ba'ch ha.i" dda~ mang y' nghi~a cu?a mo^.t cha^n ly’. Qu?a tha^.t, vu. tu+. thie^u cu?a ho`a thu+o+.ng TQDD la` mt tha`nh co^ng tuye^.t vo+`i cu?a nhu+~ng nha` dda.o die^~n tuye^.t vo+`I ..! Ngay sau vu. tu+. thie^u, bo^. ngoa.i giao chi? thi. cho Trueheat dde^'n no'i cho o^ng Die^.m bie^'t: pha?i tu+'c kha('c tho?a ma~n nhu+~ng ddo`i ho?i cu?a Pha^t gia'o ne^'u kho^ng Hoa Ky` se~ khai ta'ch ro+`i ra kho?i su+. "thie^'u thie^.n chi'" cu?a chi'nh quye^`n Ngo^ DDi`nh Die^.m\. Nga`y 12/6, Trueheart va`o ga(.p o^png Die^.m, chuye^?n lo+`i cu?a bo^. ngoa.i giao My. Bo^'n nga`y sau, mo^.t tho?a u+o+'c ddu+o+.c ky' ke^'t giu+~a chi'nh quye^`n va` dda.i die^.n Pha^.t gia'o. Nhu+ng dda~ qu'a muo^.n\. Cuo^.c khu?ng hoa?ng dda~ vu+o+.t kho?i ta^`m tay cu?a chi'nh quye^`n Ngo^ DDi`nh Die^.m va` cu?a Pha^.t gia'o. No' dda~ co' nhu+~ng ki'ch thu+o+'c mo+'i. Cuo^.c dda^'u tranh dda~ mang ba?n cha^'t mo+'i va` mu.c tie^u mo+'i\. Cuo^.c dda^'u tranh kho^ng nha(`m ba?o ve^. dda.o pha'p nu+~a, ma` nha(`m thu+.c hie^.n mo^.t mu+u ddo^` chi'nh tri., tu+'c la` la^.t ddo^? chi'nh quye^`n ho+.p pha'p cu?a quo^'c gia mie^`n Nam\. Pha'p na.n chi? la` ca'i co+’. Ngay ca? o^ng Die^.m cu~ng chi? la` ca'i co+'\. Chu'ng ta ha~y tro+? la.i tho+`i ddie^?m 16/6/1963\. Tho?a u+o+'c giu+~a chi'nh phu? va` dda.i die^.n Pha^.t gia'o chu+a ra'o mu+.c, thi` cuo^.c dda^'u tranh ve^` pha'p na.n la.i bu`ng le^n du+~ do^.i ho+n\. Nhu+~ng ddoa`n ngu+o+`i qu'a khi'ch tra`n xuo^'ng ddu+o+`ng, la he't va` va^.t lo^.n vo+'i nha^n vie^n co^ng lu+.c\. Nhu+~ng truye^`n ddo+n bi'ch chu+o+ng ba(`ng tie^'ng My~ va` tie^'ng Vie^.t ddu+o+.c tung ra kha('p no+i, le^n a'n che^' ddo^. Ngo^ DDi`nh Die^.m dda`n a'p va` ba'ch ha.i Pha^.t gia'o. Mo^.t so^' truye^`n ddo+n ke^u goi da^n chu'ng ddu+'ng le^n "la^.t ddo^? che^' ddo^. ba.o ta`n"\. Chi'nh quye^`n Ngo^ DDi`nh Die^.m lu'c ddo' lu+o+~ng dda^`u tho. ddi.ch\. Mo^.t ma(.t pha?i ddo^'i pho' vo+'i nhu+~ng nho'm dda'u tranh qu'a khi'ch ddo`i la^.t ddo^? chi'nh quye^`n, mo^.t ma(.t pha?i ddo^'i pho' vo+'i nhu+~ng a'p lu+.c ca`ng nga`y ca`ng gia ta(ng cu?a chi'nh quye^`n Kennedy. Con ngu+o+`i ddu+'ng tru+o+'c dda^`u gi'o, ki`nh die^.n vo+'i thu+.c te^' kha('c nghie^.t, la` o^ng Ngo^ DDi`nh Nhu\. O^ng Nhu le^n a'n nhu+~ng ha`nh ddo^.ng cu?a nho'm dda^'u tranh qu'a khi'ch la` ba^'t ho+.p pha't, pha' ro^'i tri. an va` la`m lo+.i cho CS\. O^ng nha^'t ddi.nh "de.p loa.n" va` kho^ng lu`i bu+o+'c tru+o+'c a'p lu+.c cu?a chi'nh quye^`n My~\. Be^n ca.nh o^ng Nhu la` ba` Nhu, vo+'i nhu+~ng tuye^n bo^' vo^ tra'ch nhie^.m kie^u ca(ng, tha'ch thu+'c, ddo^? da^`u va`o lu+?a\. Tu+` tha'ng 6 dde^'n tha'ng 8/1963, ti`nh hi`nh nga`y mo^.t ca(ng tha(?ng\. Saigon le^n co+n so^'t chi'nh tri., Saigon nhu+ mo^.t thu`ng thuo^'c no^? cha^.m\. Nhu+~ng pha^`n tu+? dda^'u tranh, ddu+o+.c su+. ddo^`ng ti`nh cu?a ba'o chi' va` cu?a du+ lua^.n My~, nha^'t la` ddu+o+.c su+. ddo^`ng ti`nh ma(.c nhie^n cu?a chi'nh quye^`n My~, dda~ tro+? ne^n hung ha(n ho+n, ddo`i ho?i ho+n, quye^'t lie^.t ho+n\. Nga`y 20/8, che^' ddo^. thie^'t qua^n lua^.t ddu+o+.c ban ha`nh, do lo+`i dde^` nghi. cu?a ca'c tu+o+'ng la~nh co' tra'ch nhie^.m\. O^ng Nhu dda~ na('m la^'y co+ ho^.i dde^? ha`nh ddng\. Ngay dde^m ddo', ca?nh sa't da~ chie^'n va` lu+.c lu+o+.ng dda(.c bie^.t mo+? cuo^.c ha`nh qua^n lu.c soa't mo^.t so^' chu`a chie^'n ta.i Saigon, Hue^', DDa` Na(~ng va` nhie^`u thi. tra^'n lo+'n \.. Tru+o+'c ddo' ma^'y ngay`, dda.i su+' Nolting dda~ va`o ga(.p o^ng Die^.m va` ddu+o+.c o^ng Die^.m hu+'a se~ gia?i quye^'t va^'n dde^` Pha^.t gia'o mo^.t ca'ch tho?a dda'ng\. DDa.i su+' Nolting dda~ gu+?i mo^.t phu'c tri`nh la.c quan ve^` to`a Ba.ch O^'c\. Vi` va^.y cuo^.c ha`nh qua^n lu.c soa't ca'c chu`a dde^m 20/8 kho^ng kha'c gi` mo^.t ca'i ta't va`o ma(.t Hoa Ky`\. Ca^u ho?i ddu+o+.c dda(.t ra: O^ng Die^.m co' ddu+o+.c o^ng Nhu tham kha?o y' kie^'n tru+o+'c hay kho^ng \? Hay o^ng Die^.m dda~ bi. o^ng Nhu dda(.t tru+o+'c mo^.t su+. dda~ ro^`i \? Trong mo.i gi?a thuye^'t, o^ng Die^.m pha?i chi.u tra'ch nhie^.m\. To`a Ba.ch O^'c su+?ng so^'t va` cu+.c ky` pha^?n no^.\. Du+ lua^.n the^' gio+'i ddo^`ng loa.t le^n a'n\. Ca'c co^' va^'n to`a Ba.ch O^'c, dda(.c bie^.t Roger Hillsman va` Averell Harrisman be`n trie^.t dde^? khai tha'c vu. na`y dde^? chi'nh thu+'c vie^'t ne^n ba?n a'n khai tu+? ne^`n dde^. nha^'t co^.ng ho`a\. Mo^.t ddao phu? ddu+o+.c go+?i dde^'n Saigon dde^? thi ha`nh ba`n a'n: Henry Cabot Lodge. Du+o+'i dda^y la` nhu+~ng ba(`ng co+' tre^n gia^'y tra('ng mu+.c dden ve^` vie^.c chi'nh quye^`n Kennedy dda~ chu? xu+o+'ng, chu? mu+u, chu? ddo^.ng va` chu? lu+.c trong vie^.c khai tu+? chi'nh quye^`n Ngo^ DDi`nh Die^.m na(m 1963\. Mo^.t ha`nh ddng ma` li.ch su+? My~ dda~ la^'y la`m ho^'i tie^'c va` ho^? the.n sau na`y, cu~ng dda~ ho^'i tie^'c va` ho^? the.n trong vu. pha?n bi mie^`n Nam na(m 1975\. 1) Co^ng ddie^.n nga`y 24/8/1963, bo^. ngoa.i giao My~ go+?i dda.i su+' Lodge. DDa.i su+' Cabot Lodge dde^'n Saigon 22/8\. Hai nga`y sau, nga`y 24/8 o^ng nha^.n ddu+o+.c co^ng ddie^.n cu?a bo^. ngoa.i giao My~, vo+'i mo^.t no^.i dung sau dda^y: "Ba^y gio+` dda~ ro~ re^.t: vu. thie^'t qua^n lua^.t du` do qua^n ddi dde^` nghi. hay do Ngo^ DDi`nh Nhu dde^` nghi Ngo^ DDi`nh Nhu va^~n la` ngu+o+`i dda~ lo+.i du.ng no' dde^? dda'nh pha' chu`a chie^`n vo+'i lu+.c lu+o+.ng ca?nh sa't va` lu+.c lu+o+.ng dda(.c bie^.t cu?a Le^ Quang Tung hie^.n trung tha`nh vo+'i Nhu\. Nhu+ va^.y, Nhu dda~ ddo^? tra'ch nhie^.m le^n dda^`u qua^n ddo^.i, tru+o+'c ma(.t the^' gio+'i va` nha^n da^n VN\. Hie^?n nhie^n Nhu dda~ tu+. ddie^`u ddo^.ng mi`nh le^n tu+ the^' na('m quye^`n chi? huy\. Chi'nh quye^`n My~ kho^ng la`m ngo+ dde^? cho quye^`n bi'nh lo.t va`o tay Nhu\. Die^.m pha?i ddu+o+.c da`nh cho co+ ho^.i dde^? loa.i bo? Nhu va` be` lu~, va` thay va`o ddo', nhu+~ng pha^`n tu+? to^'t nha^'t co' the^? ti`m tha^'y, qua^n su+. cu~ng nhu+ da^n su+.\. Ne^'u o^ng dda.i su+' dda~ co^' ga('ng thuye^'t phu.c Die^.m ma` Die^.m va^~n ngoan co^', thi` lu'c ddo' chu'ng ta pha?i ddu+'ng tru+o+'c ti`nh huo^'ng la` ngay ca? Die^.m cu~ng kho^ng ddu+o+.c duy tri` nu+~a. O^ng dda.i su+' va` to^? ha`nh ddng ta.i cho^~ pha?i ca^'p to^'c cu+'u xe't vie^.c ti`m ngu+o+`i la~nh dda.o thay the^', va` soa.n tha?o nhu+~ng ke^' hoa.ch chi tie^'t dde^? thay the^' Die^.m, khi ca^`n\. Kho^ng ca^`n pha?i no'i, cha('c o^ng dda.i su+' se~ tham kha?o y' kie^'n vo+'i dda.i tu+o+'ng Harkins ve^` nhu+~ng bie^.n pha' ca^`n thie^'t dde^? ba?o ve^. nha^n vie^n My~ trong suo^'t tho+`i ky` khu?ng hoa?ng\... O^ng dda.i su+' ne^n hie^?u ra(`ng chu'ng to^i kho^ng the^? tu+` Hoa Thi.nh DDo^'n ddu+a ra nhu+~ng chi tie^'t ha`nh ddo^.ng, nhu+ng o^ng dda.i su+' cu~ng ne^n hie^?u ra(`ng chu'ng to^i trie^.t dde^? ddu+'ng sau lu+ng o^ng dda.i su+' trong ta^'t ca? nhu+~ng ha`nh ddo^.ng nha(`m dda.t to+'i mu.c tie^u cu?a chu'ng ta" (Telegram 243, State to Lodge, Aug 24, 1963, Box 198, National Security File, John F\. Kennedy Library)\. DDoa.n va(n tre^n cu?a bu+'c co^ng ddie^.n co' the^? to'm ta('t nhu+ sau: "Die^.m pha?i loa.i bo? Nhu\. Ne^'u kho^ng, chi'nh Die^.m se~ bi. loa.i bo?\. Ha~y ca^'p to^'c su+?a soa.n ke^' hoa.ch thay the^' Die^.m, o^ng dda.i su+' ddu+o+.c toa`n quye^`n ha`nh ddo^.ng dde^? dda.t mu.c tie^u"\. Loa.i bo? o^ng Die^.m ba(`ng ca'ch na`o \? Bu+'c co^ng ddie^.n vie^'t tie^p: "O^ng dda.i su+' cu~ng co' the^? no'i cho nhu+~ng tu+o+'ng la~nh "thi'ch ho+.p" bie^'t ra(`ng: chu'ng ta se~ tru+.c tie^'p u?ng ho^. ho. trong tho+`i ky` ta.m quye^`n, khi bo^. ma'y chi'nh quye^`n trung u+o+ng bi. ngu+ng." Ca^u na`y co' the^? vie^'t la.i mo^.t ca'ch so^'ng su+o+.ng nhu+ sau: "O^ng dda.i su+' ha~y no'i cho ca'c tu+o+'ng la~nh bie^'t: la^.t ddo^? chi'nh quye^`n trung u+o+ng ddi, My~ se~ u?ng ho^."\. Bu+'c co^ng ddie^.n no'i tre^n (ma` sau na`y su+? sa'ch go.i la` bu+'c co^ng ddie^.n nga`y 24/8) mang chu+~ ky' cha^'p thua^.n (approved) hoa(.c tho^ng qua (cleared) cu?a nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i sau dda^y: Roger Hillsman, phu. ta' bo^. ngoa.i giao, W\. Averell Harriman, thu+' tru+o+?ng ngoa.i giao dda(.c tra'ch chi'nh tri. vu., Michael V\. Forrestal, chuye^n vie^n ve^` VN va` DDo^ng Nam A' ta.i to`a Ba.ch O^'c va` George Ball, thu+' tru+o+?ng ngoa.i giao\. Ta'c gi?a cu?a bu+'c co^ng ddie^.n la` Hillsman va` Harriman\. Hai ngu+o+`i na`y dda~ ha`nh ddo^.ng ga^'p ru't va` tri' tra', vu+o+.t mo.i thu? tu.c thu+o+`ng le^. TT Kennedy, to^?ng tru+o+?ng ngoa.i giao Dean Rusk, to^?ng tru+o+?ng quo^'c pho`ng McNamara, to^?ng tham mu+u tru+o+?ng lie^n qua^n Maxwell Taylor, gia'm ddo^'c trung u+o+ng ti`nh ba'o MacCone, ta^'t ca? dda~ bi. qua ma(.t\. Ho^m ddo' nhu+~ng nha^n va^.t na`y ddang nghi? cuo^'i tua^`n\. Ho. chi? ddu+o+.c tho^ng ba'o va` ddo.c cho nghe trong ddie^.n thoa.i. Va` trong ddie^n thoa.i, mo^~i vi. dde^`u ddu+o+.c bie^'t: to^?ng tho^'ng dda~ cha^'p thua^.n, hoa(.c ca^'p tre^n tru+.c tie^'p cu?a ho. dda~ cha^'p thua^.n\. Rie^ng TT Kennedy thi` ddu+o+.c phu'c tri`nh ra(`ng ngoa.i tru+o+?ng Dean Rusk dda~ cha^'p thua^.n\... Co`n ngoa.i tru+o+?ng Dean Rusk dda~ cha^'p thua^.n, va` ddu+o+.c cho bie^'t trong ddie^.n thoa.i ra(`ng TT Kennedy dda~ cha^'p thua^.n\. Co^ng ddie^.n gu+?i ddi lu'c 9 gio+` 36 phu't to^'i 24/8 va` khoa?ng 11 gio+` to^'i ho^m ddo', dda.i tu+o+'ng Taylor mo+'i nha^.n du+o+.c ba?n sao. O^ng no^?i gia^.n cho ra(`ng "nho'm cho^'ng ddo^'i Die^.m na(`m trong Bo^. Ngoa.i Giao dda~ lo+.i du.ng lu'c ca'c vie^n chu+'c cao ca^'p trong chi'nh phu? va('ng ma(.t dde^? ddu+a ra nhu+~ng chi? thi. ma` ne^'u ddu+o+.c soa.n tha?o trong nhu+~ng tru+o+`ng ho+.p bi`nh thu+o+`ng se~ kho^ng bao gio+` ddu+o+.c cha^'p thua^.n"\. (Kennedy in Vietnam, trang 116)\. 2) Co^ng ddie^.n nga`y 26/8, dda.i su+' Lodge go+?i Bo^. Ngoa.i Giao. DDa.i su+' Lodge nha^.n ddu+o+.c co^ng ddie^.n no'i tre^n cu?a bo^. ngoa.i giao va`o sa'ng chu? nha^.t 25/8\. O^ng be`n ho.p tham mu+u, va` quye^'t ddi.nh ddi tha(?ng vo+'i ca'c tu+o+'ng la~nh VN\. O^ng la^.p lua^.n ra(`ng: o^ng Die^.m se~ cha(?ng bao gio+` cha^'p nha^.n nhu+~ng khuye^'n ca'o cu?a Hoa Ky` ve^` vie^.c loa.i bo? o^ng Nhu\. No'i cho o^ng Die^.m bie^'t la^.p tru+o+`ng cu?a to`a Ba.ch O^'c, se~ kho^ng i'ch lo+.i gi`\. Cha(?ng nhu+~ng va^.y, co`n co' the^? khie^'n cho o^ng Die^.m dda^m ra nghi ngo+` ca'c tu+o+'ng la~nh\. Du+o+'i dda^y la` bu+'c co^ng ddie^.n cu?a dda.i su+' Lodge tra? lo+`i bo^. ngoa.i giao: "To^i tin ra(`ng Die^.m se~ kho^ng cha^'p thua^.n nhu+~ng ddo`i ho?i cu?a chu'ng ta\. DDo^`ng tho+`i, khi ddu+a nhu+~ng ddo`i ho?i a^'y ra, chu'ng ta se~ cho Nhu co+ ho^.i dde^` pho`ng tru+o+'c hoa(.c cha^.n ddu+'ng ha`nh ddo^.ng cu?a qua^n ddi, ddo' la` mo^.t cuo^.c ma.o hie^?m kho^ng ne^n la`m, bo+?i vi` hie^.n nay Nhu ddang na('m giu+~a nhu+~ng lu+.c lu+o+.ng chie^'n dda^'u ta.i Saigon\. Vi` va^.y, to^i dde^` nghi., chu'ng ta ne^n ddi tha(?ng vo+'i ca'c tu+o+'ng la~nh, ma` kho^ng cho Die^.m bie^'t\. To^i se~ no'i cho ca'c tu+o+'ng la~nh bie^'t ra(`ng chu'ng ta chu? tru+o+ng giu+~ Die^.m la.i, kho^ng co' Nhu\. Nhu+ng tre^n thu+.c te^', giu+~ Die^.m hay kho^ng la` tu`y o+? ho.\. To^i cu~ng se~ ye^u ca^`u ca'c tu+o+'ng la~nh la`m nhu+~ng ddie^`u ca^`n thie^'t dde^? tha? ca'c la~nh tu. Pha^.t gia'o va` thi ha`nh tho?a u+o+'c na`y 16/8\. Tuy nhie^n to^i kho^ng dde^` nghi. ra tay ha`nh ddo^.ng, cho dde^'n khi chu'ng ta co' ddu+o+.c nhu+~ng ke^' hoa.ch tro^'n thoa't va` tra'nh ne' (evasion, escape) tho?a dda'ng\. Tu+o+'ng Harkins ddo^`ng y'\. Nga`y mai, ho^`i 11 gio+` sa'ng, to^i se~ tri`nh u?y nhie^.m tho+ le^n TT Die^.m"\. (Lodge to State, quoted in telegram 6346 Forrestall to President, Aug 25, 63\. Box 198, National security files, John F\. Kennedy library)\. Co' ba ddie^?m quan he^. trong bu+'c co^ng ddie^.n cu?a dda.i su+' Lodge\. Thu+' nha^'t: kho^ng ca^`n pha?i no'i vo+'i Die^.m loa.i bo? Nhu, ma` ba?o ca'c tu+o+'ng la~nh loa.i bo? Nhu\. Thu+' hai: cho phe'p ca'c tu+o+'ng la~nh VN ddu+o+.c tu`y y' giu+~ Die^.m hay loa.i bo? Die^.m\. Thu+' ba: toa` dda.i su+' My~ dda~ nghi~ dde^'n vie^.c giu'p ddo+? ca'c nha^n vie^n My~ va` ca'c tu+o+'ng la~nh VN tro^'n thoa't trong tru+o+`ng ho+.p dda?o cha'nh tha^'t ba.i\. DDa.i su+' Lodge go+?i co^ng ddie^.n ddi nga`y 26/8\. Cu`ng nga`y ddo', o^ng nha^.n ddu+o+.c co^ng ddie^.n va('n ta('t sau dda^y cu?a bo^. ngoa.i giao: "DDo^`ng y' vo+'i su+. su+?a ddo^?i dda~ dde^` nghi."\. Nguye^n va(n "Agree to modification proposed"\. (telegram Ball to Lodge, 26/8/63, Box 198, national security files, John F Kennedy library, ddu+o+.c tri'ch da^~n trong Kennedy in Viet Nam, trang 116) Tu+'c la` bo^. ngoa.i gio My~ cha^'p thua^n toa`n bo^. ke^' hoa.ch cu?a dda.i su+' Lodge: ddi tha(?ng vo+'i ca'c tu+o+'ng la~nh dde^? gia?i quye^'t va^'n dde^` loa.i bo? o^ng Nhu, va` co' the^? loa.i bo? ca? o^ng Die^.m\. 3) Co^ng ddie^.n nga`y 28/8, TT Kennedy go+?i dda.i su+' Lodge. Sa'ng thu+' hai, nga`y 26/8, TT Kennedy tro+? ve^` to`a Ba.ch O^'c sau cuo^.c nghi? cuo^'i tua^`n ta.i Hyannisport\. O^ng kha'm pha' ra nhu+~ng mo+` a'm chung quanh bu+c co^ng ddie^.n 24/8\. To^?ng tru+o+?ng quo^'c pho`ng McNamara kho^ng ddu+o+.c tham kha?o y' kie^'n, kho^ng ddu+o+.c tho^ng ba'o. Gia'm ddo^'c CIA MacCone, dda.i tu+o+'ng Taylor va` ngoa.i tru+o+?ng Rusk cu~ng kho^ng ddu+o+.c tham kha?o. Ngoa.i tru+o+?ng Rusk dda~ ddo^`ng y' cho gu+?i bu+'c co^ng ddie^.n ddi, va` tu+o+?ng ra(`ng TT Kenndy dda~ ddo^`ng y'\. Va` TT Kennedy dda~ ddo^`ng y' cho ngu+o+`i gu+?i bu+'c co^ng ddie^.n ddi, va` tu+o+?ng ra(`ng ngoa.i tru+o+?ng Rusk dda~ ddo^`ng y'\. Theo ca'c ta`i lie^.u, thi` sau khi kha'm pha' ra nhu+~ng ddie^`u khua^'t ta^'t, TT Kennedy dda~ gia^.n du+~ nhu+ chu+a tu+`ng tha^'y\. Tru+a ho^m ddo' (26/8), mo^.t cuo^.c tranh lua^.n so^i no^?i dda~ die^~n ra ta.i to`a Ba.ch O^'c, tru+o+'c su+. hie^.n die^.n cu?a Kennedy. Pha^`n ddo^ng nhu+~ng nguo+`i co' ma(.t dde^`u ba^'t ma~n vo+'i no^.i dung cu?a bu+'c co^ng ddie^.n va` le^` lo^'i la`m vie^.c cu?a Hillsman va` Harriman\. Va^'n dde^` ddu+o+.c dda(.t ra mo^.t ca'ch kha^?n tru+o+ng: co' ne^n ru't la.i du+'c co^ng ddie^.n 24/8 hay kho^ng \? Tuy dda so^' nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i co' ma(.t kho^ng ddo^`ng y' vo+'i no^.i dung cu?a bu+'c co^ng ddie^.n, nhu+ng kho^ng mo^.t ai ta'n tha`nh vie^.c ru't la.i hoa(.c hu?y bo? bu+'c co^ng ddie^.n\. Vi` va^.y, bu+'c co^ng ddie^.n va^~n giu+~ nguye^n hie^.u lu+.c cu?a no'\. Cha(?ng nhu+~ng va^.y, nga`y 27/8, khi TT Kennedy ga(.p la.i ca'c co^' va^'n trong to`a Ba.ch O^'c, ngoa.i tru+o+?ng Rusk co`n nha^'n ma.nh ra(`ng: "chu'ng ta pha?i cho ca'c vie^n chu+'c chu'ng ta o+? Saigon bie^'t ra(`ng chu'ng ta se~ kho^ng thay ddo^?i nhu+~ng chi? thi. ddang co', nhu+~ng chi? thi. ma` ho. dda~ ca(n cu+' va` dde^? tie^'n ha`nh nhie^`u co^ng vie^.c ro^`i" (Memorandum of Conference with the President, Aug 27, 63, John F\. Kennedy library) Mo^.t va^'n dde^` kha'c, kho^ng ke'm kha^?n tru+o+ng, cu~ng dda~ ddu+o+.c dda(.t ra trong phie^n ho.p, lie^.u ca'c tu+o+'ng la~nh VN se~ tha`nh co^ng hay kho^ng \? DDo^'i vo+'i TT Kennedy, thi` dda^y la` mo^.t va^'n dde^` sinh tu+?\. Chi'nh quye^`n mang te^n o^ng dda~ ddu+o+.c ga('n lie^`n vo+'i nhu+~ng tha^'t ba.i e^ che^` va` ru'ng ddo^.ng du+ lua^.n trong vu. Vi.nh Con Heo va` Ai Lao mo+'i dda^y\. Ne^'u cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh tha^'t ba.i, o^ng la` ngu+o+`i pha?i chuo^'c la^'y mo.i tie^'ng xa^'u va` khinh khi cu?a du+ lua^.n, trong cu~ng nhu+ ngoa`i nu+o+'c\. Vi` va^.y, nga`y 27/8, bo^. ngoa.i giao ddu+o+.c le^.nh pha?i dda'nh ddie^.n ye^u ca^`u dda.i su+' Lodge cho bie^'t the^m chi tie^'t ve^` a^m mu+u dda?o cha'nh va` ve^` nhu+~ng tu+o+'ng la~nh ddang a^m mu+u dda?o cha'nh\. DD/s Lodge be`n ca^'p to^'c gu+?i co^ng ddie^.n ve^` Hoa Thi.nh DDo^'n ddoan quye^'t ra(ng: "cuo^.c dda?o chi'nh co' vie^~n tu+o+.ng ra^'t to^'t, ne^'u tri` hoa~n, co+ may tha`nh co^ng se~ gia?m ddi" (The Overthrow of Ngo Dinh Diem, United States Viet Nam Relation III, trang 19)\. Nhu+ng, khi bo^. ngoa.i giao dda'nh ddie^.n ho?ii dda.i su+' Lodge, thi` tu+o+'ng Taylor o+? Ngu~ Gia'c DDa`i cu~ng dda'nh ddie^.n cho tu+o+'ng Harkins tu+ le^.nh MAGV ta.i Saigon dde^? ho?i ve^` "ty? le^. tha`nh co^ng" cu?a cuo^.c dda?o chi'nh ma` ca'c tu+o+'ng la~nh VN ddang su+?a soa.n\. Tu+o+'ng Taylor cu~ng cho tu+o+'ng Harkins bie^'t ra(`ng co^ng ddie^.n nga`y 24/8 dda~ kho^ng co' su+. tham gia y' kie^'n cu?a bo^. quo^'c pho`ng hoa(c cu?a bo^. to^?ng tham mu+u lie^n qua^n\. Tu+o+'ng Taylor co`n no'i ra(`ng: "ca'c vie^n chu+'c cha'nh phu? ddang suy nghi~ la.i bu+'c co^ng ddie^.n ddo'"\. (FYI State to Saigon, Telegram 3368-63, Taylor to Harkins, Aug 28, 63, Box 316, national security files, John F\. Kennedy library, ddu+o+.c tri'ch da^~n trong Kennedy in Viet Nam, trang 123) Tra'i vo+'i dda.i su+' Lodge, tuo+'ng Harkins kho^ng la.c quan la('m ve^` kha? na(ng cu?a ca'c tu+o+'ng dda?o cha'nh\. Theo o^ng, ca'n ca^n lu+.c lu+o+.ng ve^` phi'a nhu+~ng dda.o qua^n trung tha`nh vo+'i o^ng Die^.m\. Sau khi nha^.n ddu+o+.c ddie^.n ti'n cu?a tu+o+'ng Taylor, tu+o+'ng Harkins be`n dda'nh ddie^.n ve^` to`a Ba.ch O^'c cho bie^'t quan ddie^?m cu?a o^ng, va` ke^'t lua^.n dda.i kha'i ra(`ng: o^ng kho^ng tin ra(`ng to`a Ba.ch O^'c co' ddu? ly' do dde^? do^'c toa`n lu+.c cha^'p nha^.n mo^.t cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh trong lu'c na`y. (The Overthrow of Ngo Dinh Diem, III, trang 19)\. Hai quan ddie^?m ddo^'i nghi.ch nhau cu?a dda.i su+' Lodge va` tu+o+ng Harkins tu+` Saigon dda'nh ve^`, dda~ la`m cho TT Kennedy cu+.c ky` hoang mang\. U?y ban An Ninh Quo^'c gia (UBANQG) ca^'p to^'c nho'm ho.p tru+a nga`y 28/8, ca~i nhau nhu+ mo^.t ca'i cho+. be^n Ai Ca^.p\. Theo Arthur Schesinger trong cuo^'n Robert Kennedy and His Time, thi` ca'c nha^n vie^n thuo^.c bo^. ngoa.i giao chu? tru+o+ng pha?i tie^'n to+'i vie^.c la^.t ddo^? o^ng Die^.m\. Cho^'ng la.i chu? tru+o+ng ddo', co' dda.i su+' Nolting\. Cuo^.c ho.p cu?a UBANQG ke^'t thu'c chie^`u ho^m ddo' (28/8)\. Ca'c u?y vie^n u?y ban va^~n chia re~ va` to`a Ba.c O^'c va^~n kho^ng co' ddu+o+.c mo^.t quye^'t ddi.nh du+'t khoa't cho va^'n dde^`\. Ngay to^'i ho^m ddo', TT Kennedy gu+?i cho dda.i su+' Lodge mo^.t ma(.t ddie^.n trong ddo' to^?ng tho^'ng ta'i xa'c nha^.n chu? tru+o+ng dda?o cha'nh cu?a to`a Ba.ch O^'c, nhu+ng y' kie^'n a^'y hoa`n toa`n tu`y thuo^.c va`o su+. nha^.n ddi.nh ta.i cho^~ cu?a o^ng dda.i su+', va` to^i tin ra(`ng o^ng dda.i su+' se~ kho^ng nga^`n nga.i cho le^.nh hoa~n la.i hoa(.c thay ddo^?i ke^' hoa.ch ba^'t cu+' lu'c na`o o^ng dda.i su+' tha^'y la` ca^`n"\. (Telegram 269, Kennedy to Lodge Aug 28, 1963, Box 316, national security files, John F\. Kennedy library)\. Ma^.t ddie^.n no'i tre^n cu?a TT Kennedy la` mo^.t su+? lie^.u vo^ cu`ng qu'y gi'a, chu+'ng minh su+. tham gia ti'ch cu+.c cu?a cha'nh quye^`n My~ trong vu. la^.t ddo^? TT Ngo^ DDi`nh Die^.m na(m 1963\. Ho+n the^' nu+~a, no' co`n la` ha`nh vi tru+.c tie^'p da^'n tha^n cu?a nha^n va^.t cao ca^'p nha^'t trong he^. tho^'ng quye^`n lu+.c va` quye^`n bi'nh cu?a Hoa Ky`, trong vu. la^.t ddo^? mo^.t to^?ng tho^'ng cu?a mie^`n Nam Vie^.t Nam\.... 4) Co^ng ddie^.n nga`y 29/8, dda.i su+' Lodge gu+?i ngoa.i tru+o+?ng Rusk\. Sau khi nha^.n ddu+o+.c ma^.t ddie^.n 269 cu?a TT Kennedy, dda.i su+' Lodge be`n tu+'c to^'c gu+?i co^ng ddie^.n cho ngoa.i tru+o+?ng Rusk, kha(?ng ddi.nh ra(`ng My~ kho^ng the^? na`o tha'o lui ddu+o+.c nu+~a, va` pha?i la^.t ddo^? Die^.m\. Du+o+'i dda^y la` nhu+~ng ddoa.n quan tro.ng cu?a bu+'c co^ng ddie^.n: "Chu'ng ta ddang o+? tre^n mo^.t tie^'n tri`nh ha`nh ddng kho^ng the^? tha'o lui ddu+o+.c nu+~a: vie^.c la^.t ddo^? Ngo^ DDi`nh Die^.m\. Kho^ng the^? tha'o lui, pha^`n ve^` uy ti'n cu?a nu+o+'c My~ dda~ co^ng khai ga('n lie^`n vo+'i vu. na`y: su+. ga('n lie^`n a^'y se~ tro+? ne^n lo+'n ho+n khi nhu+~ng su+. vie^.c dda~ bi. tie^'t l ra ngoa`i. Tre^n mt y' nghi~a ca(n ba?n ho+n, kho^ng the^? tha'o lui, bo+?i vi` theo to^i, kho^ng co' hy vo.ng gi` tha('ng ddu+o+.c cuc chie^'n tranh na`y vo+'i mt Ngo^ DDi`nh Die^.m co`n ngo^`i o+? chi'nh quye^`n\. Ca`ng kho^ng hy vo.ng gi` Die^.m hoa(.c ba^'t cu+' ngu+o+`i na`o trong gia ddi`nh Die^.m co' kha? na(ng la~nh dda.o dda^'t nu+o+'c va` tranh thu? ddu+o+.c su+. ha^.u thua^~n cu?a nhu+~ng tha`nh pha^`n dda'ng ke^? trong da^n chu'ng, nhu+ gio+'i tri' thu+'c trong va` ngoa`i cha'nh quye^`n, da^n su+. cu~ng nhu+ qua^n su+., chu+a no'i dde^'n nha^n da^n Hoa Ky. Trong nhu+~ng tha'ng ga^`n dda^y va` dda(.c bie^.t trong nhu+~ng nga`y ga^`n dda^y, anh em Die^.m dda~ la`m cho nhu+~ng tha`nh pha^`n da^n chu'ng no'i tre^n cha'n ghe't dde^'n cu+.c ddo^.\. Vi` va^.y, ba?n tha^n to^i hoa`n toa`n ddo^`ng y' vo+'i sa'ch lu+o+.c ma` to^i ddu+o+.c le^.nh pha?i thi ha`nh, chie^'u co^ng ddie^.n nga`y chu? nha^.t vu+`a qua. Co+ may tha`nh co^ng cu?a cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh tu`y thuo^.c va`o ca'c tu+o+'ng la~nh VN mt mu+'c ddo^. na`o ddo', nhu+ng cu~ng tu`y thuc va`o chu'ng ta, i't nha^'t cu`ng mt mu+'c ddo^. ddo. Chu'ng ta pha?i kho+?i su+. la`m mo^.t co^' ga('ng toa`n die^.n dde^? thu'c dda^?y ca'c tu+o+'ng la~nh ha`nh ddo^.ng mau le." (Telegram 375, Lodge to Stae Aug 29,1963, Box, National security files, John F\. Kennedy library) Bu+'c co^ng ddie^.n cu?a dda.i su+' Lodge co' the^? to'm ta('t nhu+ sau: chu'ng ta ngu+o+`i My~, kho^ng the^? lu`i ddu+o+.c nu+~a, pha?i la^.t ddo^? Ngo^ DDi`nh Die^.m\. DDie^`u dda'ng no'i, la`: trong ca'c co^ng ddie^.n tru+o+'c, dda.i su+' Lodge chi? no'i dde^'n vie^.c loa.i bo? o^ng Nhu, loa.i bo? hay giu+~ o^ng Die^.m dde^? tu`y o+? ca'c tu+o+'ng la~nh\. Nhu+ng trong bu+'c co^ng ddie^.n no'i tre^n, dda.i su+' Lodge dda~ minh thi. no'i dde^'n su+. ca^`n thie^'t pha?i loa.i bo? o^ng Die^.m va` gia ddi`nh o^ng Die^.m\. DDa.i su+' Lodge vie^'t tie^'p: "Ne^'u ca'c tu+o+'ng la~nh ddo`i chu'ng ta pha?i co^ng khai tuye^n bo^' ca('t vie^.n tro+., chu'ng ta cu~ng se~ cha^'p nha^.n la`m ddie^`u ddo', mie^~n la` ho. hie^?u ra(`ng ho. se~ pha?i kho+?i su+. cu`ng mo^.t lu'c vo+'i lo+`i tuye^n bo^' cu?a chu'ng ta"\. Mo^.t su+. vie^.c dda~ xa?y ra, khie^'n dda.i su+' Lodge tro+? ne^n quye^'t lie^.t trong bu+'c co^ng ddie^.n\. So^' la`, sa'ng nga`y 29/8, tru+o+?ng nhie^.m CIA va` Lou Conein dda~ ddu+o+.c go.i dde^'n tru. so+? MACV cho xem bu+'c co^ng ddie^.n cu?a dda.i tu+o+'ng Taylor gu+?i cho tu+o+'ng Harkins trong ddo' co' ca^u "ca'c vie^n chu+'c trong chi'nh phu? ddang suy nghi~ la.i bu+'c co^ng ddie^.n nga`y 24/8"\. Buo^?i sa'ng ho^m ddo', Conein cu~ng co' he.n vo+'i tu+o+'ng Du+o+ng va(n Minh, ngu+o+`i ddu+o+.c coi la` la~nh tu. cu?a cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh\. Cuo^.c ga(.p go+~ ra^'t la` chie^'u le^., Conein dda~ ddu+o+.c chi? thi. cu?a CIA kho^ng ddu+o+.c hu+'a he.n gi` vo+'i tu+o+'ng Minh\. Su+. vie^.c na`y dda~ khie^'n tu+o+'ng Minh cu+.c ky` lo nga.i, o^ng nghi~ ra(`ng My~ ddang cho+i tro` pha?n bo^.i ddo^'i vo+'i ca'c tu+o+'ng dda?o cha'nh\. Tu+o+'ng Minh be`n ddo`i My~ pha?i to? da^'u hie^.u u?ng ho^. ca'c tu+o+'ng la~nh dda?o cha'nh ba(ng ca'ch ngu+ng vie^.n tro+. cho che^' ddo^. Ngo^ DDi`nh Die^.m\. Khi bie^'t ro~ ca^u chuye^.n cu?a tu+o+'ng Minh, dda.i su+' Lodge no^?i gia^.n va` ddo`i Richardson (tru+o+?ng nhie^.m CIA ta.i Saigon) cho bie^'t ly' do\. Richardson be`n tra? lo+`i ra(`ng: Hoa Thi.nh DDo^'n ddang suy nghi~ la.i va` co' ve? ho^'i tie^'c ve^` co^ng ddie^.n nga`y 24/8\. Khi nghe va^.y, dda.i su+' Lodge dda~ pha?i vo^.i va`ng gu+?i ngay co^ng ddie^.n ve^` bo^. ngoa.i giao, kha(?ng ddi.nh ra(`ng: My~ kho^ng the^? na`o tha'o lui ddu+o+.c nu+~a va` pha?i la^.t ddo^? Ngo^ DDi`nh Die^.m\. Chu'ng ta tha^'y: vai tro` cu?a My~ trong vu. dda?o cha'nh 1963 dda~ qu'a ro~ re^.t va` qu'a lo^. lie^~u. DDa.i su+' Lodge dda~ kha(?ng ddi.nh trong ddoa.n 2 cu?a bu+'c co^ng ddie^.n\. "co+ may tha`nh co^ng cu?a cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh tu`y thuo^.c va`o ca'c tu+o+'ng la~nh mt mu+'c ddo^. na`o ddo', nhu+ng no' tu`y thuo^.c va`o chu'ng ta, i't nha^'t cu`ng mo^.t mu+'c ddo^. ddo'"\. DDa.i su+' Lodge muo^'n no'i ra(`ng: ne^'u My~ kho^ng tru+.c tie^'p va` ti'ch cu+.c nhu'ng tay va`o, thi` cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh se~ cha(?ng bao gio+` tha`nh co^ng\. Nhu+ng co`n mo^.t su+. thu+.c kha'c ma` dda.i su+' Lodge kho^ng no'i ra, so+. la`m na?n lo`ng to`a Ba.ch O^'c\. Su+. thu+.c ddo', la`: ne^'u My~ kho^ng tru+.c tie^'p va` ti'ch cu+.c nhu'ng tay va`o, thi` ca'c tu+o+'ng se~ cha(?ng bao gio+` da'm dda?o cha'nh o^ng Die^.m\. Va` ba^y gio+`, chu'ng ta ha~y suy nghi~ theo tu+`ng giai ddoa.n\. Ne^'u My~ trie^.t dde^? u?ng ho^. o^ng Die^.m, nhu+ng kho^ng cho^'ng o^ng Die^.m, ca'c tu+o+'ng la~nh se~ cha(?ng bao gio+` da'm dda?o cha'nh\. Ne^'u My~ kho^ng trie^.t dde^? u?ng ho^. o^ng Die^.m, nhu+ng kho^ng cho^'ng o^ng Die^.m, ca'c tu+o+'ng la~nh cu~ng cha(?ng bao gio+` da'm dda?o cha'nh\. Ne^'u My~ cho^'ng o^ng Die^.m, nhu+ng kho^ng cho^'ng ddo^'i co^ng khai, ca'c tu+o+'ng la~nh cu~ng se~ cha(?ng bao gio+` da'm dda?o cha'nh\. Ne^'u My~ co^ng khai cho^'ng o^ng Die^.m, nhu+ng kho^ng cho CIA dde^'n mo'c no^'i, ca'c tu+o+'ng la~nh cu~ng se~ cha(?ng bao gio+` da'm dda?o cha'nh\. Ne^'u My~ cho CIA dde^'n mo'c no^'i, nhu+ng la.i kho^ng co' mo^.t ha`nh ddng cu. the^? va` co^ng khai na`o chu+'ng to? My~ quye^'t ta^m la^.t ddo^? o^ng Die^.m (nhu+ ca('t vie^.n tro+.), ca'c tu+o+'ng la~nh cu~ng se~ cha(?ng bao gio+` da'm dda?o cha'nh\. Ca'i ne^'u thu+' 5 dda~ xa?y ra\. Trong suo^'t tho+`i gian tha'ng 8/1963, nha^'t la` tu+` nga`y dda.i su+' Lodge dde^'n, Lucien Conein dde^? dde^'n mo'c no^'i khuye^'n khi'ch ca'c tu+o+'ng la~nh dda?o cha'nh nha^'t la` hu+'a he.n ra(`ng My~ se~ trie^.t dde^? u?ng ho^. ho. trong tho+`i gian chuye^?n tie^'p sau khi bo^. ma'y chi'nh quye^`n trung u+o+ng bi. pha' sa^.p\. Ma(.c du` va^.y, ca'c tu+o+'ng la~nh va^~n kho^ng da'm ha`nh ddo^.ng\. Ho+n ai he^'t, ho. thuo^.c na(`m lo`ng ba`i ho.c 1960 cu?a dda.i ta' Nguye^~n Cha'nh Thi. Ho. y' thu+'c mo^.t ca'ch sa^u sa('c ra(`ng: ne^'u My~ kho^ng da^'n tha^n, ne^'u My~ kho^ng nha^.p cuo^.c, thi` cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh se~ cha(?ng bao gio+` tha`nh co^ng\. Cha(?ng nhu+~ng kho^ng tha`nh co^ng, ma` co`n mang ho.a\. Ho. cu~ng y' thu+'c mo^.t ca'ch sa^u sa('c ra(`ng: su+. nha^.p cuo^.c va` da^'n tha^n cu?a My~ pha?i ddu+o+.c the^? hie^.n ba(`ng ha`nh ddo^.ng cu. the^? nha^'t, ngoa.n mu.c nha^'t va` de^~ khi'ch ddo^.ng qua^`n chu'ng nha^'t, ddo' la`: chi'nh quye^`n My~ pha?i ca('t vie^.n tro+. va` tuye^n bo^' ca('t vie^.n tro+.\.. Chi? trong tru+o+`ng ho+.p ddo' va` chi? vo+'i ddie^`u kie^.n ddo', ho. mo+'i da'm dda?o cha'nh\. Ca'c tu+o+'ng la~nh trong nho'm dda?o cha'nh, tu+o+'ng Tra^`n va(n DDo^n, tu+o+'ng Tra^`n Thie^.n Khie^m, tu+o+'ng Du+o+ng va(n Minh, va` ke^? ca? tu+o+'ng Le^ va(n Kim - ngu+o+`i co' y' thu+'c chi'nh tri. nha^'t trong nho'm - kho^ng pha?i la` nhu+~ng con ngu+o+`i chi'nh tri., hoa(.c ca'ch ma.ng\. Vi` va^.y ho. thie^'u ha(?n ca'i khi' pha'ch va` can tru+o+`ng cu?a nhu+~ng con ngu+o+`i chi'nh tri. hoa(.c ca'ch ma.ng\. Ho. kho^ng co' ta^`m vo'c cu?a nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i la~nh dda.o. Ho. ddu+o+.c dda`o ta.o dde^? phu.c tu`ng va` dde^? ddu+o+.c ngu+o+`i kha'c la~nh dda.o. Ho. ca^`n pha?i ddu+o+.c ngu+o+`i kha'c la~nh dda.o va` ho. cho co' hie^.u na(ng khi ddu+o+.c ngu+o+`i kha'c la~nh dda.o. DDo' la` mo^.t su+. tha^.t dda'ng buo^`n\. Su+. tha^t a^'y, quo^'c da^n VN dda~ co' di.p nhi`n tha^'y ra sau khi o^ng Die^.m bi. la^.t ddo^?\. 5) Co^ng ddie^.n nga`y 29/9 cu?a ngoa.i tru+o+?ng Rusk Co^ng ddie^.n nga`y 29/8 no'i tre^n cu?a dda.i su+' Lodge dda~ ddu+o+.c ddu+a ra mo^? xe? ta.i Hi DDo^`ng An Ninh Quo^'c Gia nho'm ho.p kha^?n ca^'p ngay ho^m ddo' ta.i to`a Ba.ch O^'c\. Va` buo^?i chie^`u nga`y 29/8, ngao.i tru+o+?ng Rusk ca^'p to^'c dda'nh ddie^.n cho dda.i su+' Lodge bie^'t quye^'t ddi.nh cu?a hi ddo^`ng\. Du+o+'i dda^y la` nhu+~g ddie^?m chi'nh: a) Cho phe'p tu+o+'ng Harkins (tu+ le^.nh qua^n ddi My~ ta.i VN) ddu+o+.c ga(.p ca'c tu+o+'ng dda?o cha'nh dde^? no'i cho ho. bie^'t My~ trie^.t dde^? u?ng ho^. vie^.c loa.i bo? Ngo^ DDi`nh Nhu, cu~ng nhu+ se~ u?ng ho^. mo^.t cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh co' nhie^`u co+ may tha`nh co^ng, nhu+ng My~ kho^ng du+. ti'nh vie^.c tru+.c tie^'p du`ng qua^n ddi My~ dde^? tie^'p tay cho nho'm dda?o cha'nh\. b) Cho phe'p dda.i su+' Lodge ddu+o+.c quye^`n loan ba'o vie^.c My~ ngu+ng vie^.n tro+. cho cha'nh quye^`n Ngo^ DDi`nh Die^.m, va`o tho+`i ddie^?m vo+'i nhu+~ng ddie^`u kie^.n do to`a dda.i su+' lu+.a cho.n\. (Cablegram from secrectary Rusk to Ambassador Lodge Aug 29/8/63, du+o+.c in la.i tro.n ve.n du+o+'i so^' 40 trong The Pentagon Papers, tr\. 198-199) Cu~ng nga`y ho^m ddo' (29/8), TT Kennedy gu+?i mo^.t ma^.t ddie^.n cho dda.i su+' Lodge, xa'c nha^.n trie^.t dde^? u?ng ho^. vie^.c la^t ddo^? chi'nh quye^`n Ngo^ DDi`nh Die^.m\. Nhu+ng to^?ng tho^'ng kho^ng ddo^`ng y' ve^` ddie^?m chi'nh quye^`n My~ "kho^ng co`n ddu+o+`ng tha'o lui"\. O^ng bi. a'm a?nh bo+?i su+. tha^'t ba.i trong vu. Vi.nh Con Heo ta.i Cuba na(m 1961, vi` va^.y o^ng khuye^n dda.i su+' Lodge pha?i cu+.c ky` tha^.n tro.ng\. Bu+'c ma^.t ddie^.n vie^'t: "Kinh nghie^.m cho to^i bie^'t ra(`ng: ha`nh ddo^.ng ma` tha^'t ba.i se~ tai ha.i ho+n la` kho^ng ha`nh ddo^.ng va` bi. coi la` thie^'u qu?a quye^'t\... Chu'ng ta ha`nh ddo^.ng, la` dde^? tha('ng\. Vi` va^.y, tha` ddo^?i y' (kho^ng ha`nh ddo^.ng) co`n ho+n la` (ha`nh ddo^.ng ma`) tha^'t ba.i" (Telegram Kennedy to Lodge Aug 29/8/63, national security files, John F\. Kennedy library) Trong hai nga`y cuo^'i cu`ng cu?a tha'ng 8/63, to`a Ba.ch O^'c ba^.n ro^.n nhu+ dda.i ba?n doanh ha`nh qua^n cu?a mo^.t ddoa`n qua^n vie^~n chinh\. TT Kennedy va` ca'c co^' va^'n cu?a o^ng o+? trong ti`nh tra.ng ba'o ddo^.ng\. Ta^'t ca? tri' na~o va` y' chi' cu?a to`a Ba.c O^'c dde^`u hu+o+'ng ve^` mo^.t cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh se~ xa?y ra ba^'t cu+' gio+` phu't na`o ta.i mie^`n Nam VN dde^? la^.t ddo^? chi'nh quye^`n Ngo^ DDi`nh Die^.m\. Vi` TT Kennedy chu? tru+o+ng ra(`ng dda~ ra tay ha`nh ddo^.ng la` pha?i tha('ng, cho ne^n qua^n lu+.c My~ dda~ ddu+o+.c huy ddo^.ng dde^? tra'nh cho nu+o+'c My~ mo^.t vu. Vi.nh Con Heo thu+' hai. Mo^.t lu+.c lu+o+.ng dda(.c nhie^.m ha?i qua^n go^`m ta`u cho+? tru+.c tha(ng ddo^? b va` khu tru.c ha.m ddu+o+.c le^.nh tua^`n tie^?u ngoa`i kho+i VN\. Ta.i Okinawa, hai tie^?u ddoa`n thu?y qua^n lu.c chie^'n My~ ta(ng cu+o+`ng, to^?ng co^.ng 3 nga`n ngu+o+`i, ddu+o+.c dda(t trong ti`nh tra.ng ba'o ddo^.ng 24/24\. Ma(.t da^`u va^.y, ngoa.i tru+o+?ng Rusk va^~n kho^ng an ta^m, o^ng lo so+. qua^n dda?o cha'nh co' the^? bi. qua^n ddi chi'nh phu? dde` bi.p va` cuo^.c no^? su'ng se~ ke'o da`i trong nhie^`u nga`y. O^ng ddo`i Hillsman pha?i dde^. tri`nh mo^.t ba?n pha^n ta'ch ti`nh hi`nh va` cho bie^'t nhu+~ng kha? na(ng ve^` phi'a My~ dde^? giu'p nho'm dda?o cha'nh tha`nh co^ng mau le.\. Hillsman dde^. tri`nh ba?n pha^n ta'ch, trong ddo' co' ca^u: "Ne^'u ca^`n, chu'ng ta se~ ddu+a qua^n chie^'n dda^'u My~ va`o Saigon dde^? giu'p qua^n dda?o cha'nh dda.t ddu+o+.c chie^'n tha('ng"\. Nguye^n va(n: if necessary, we should bring in US combat troops to assist the coup group to achieve victory. (Memorandum Hillsman to Rusk, Aug 30, 63, Chicago Sun Times, June 23, 1971, ddu+o+.c tri'ch da^~n trong Kennedy in Vietnam, trang 126) Ve^` pha^`n dda.i tu+o+ng Harkins, tua^n theo chi? thi. cu?a TT Kennedy, o^ng mo+`i tu+o+'ng Tra^`n Thie^.n Khie^m to+'i ba?n doanh MAGV sa'ng nga`y 31/8 va` cho tu+o+'ng Khie^m bie^'t: "Ne^'u ca'c tu+o+'ng la~nh sa(~n sa`ng la^.t ddo^? Die^.m, Hoa Ky` se~ u?ng ho^."\. Tu+o+'ng Khie^m be`n ddi ga(.p tu+o+'ng Du+o+ng Va(n Minh, ro^`i chie^`u ho^m ddo' tro+? la.i ba'o cho tu+o+'ng Harkins bie^'t ra(`ng tu+o+'ng Du+o+ng va(n Minh dda~ tho^i kho^ng nghi~ dde^'n chuye^.n dda?o cha'nh nu+~a, vi` ly' do: nho'm dda?o cha'nh kho^ng ddu? lu+.c lu+o+.ng dde^? ddu+o+ng dda^`u vo+'i qua^n chi'nh phu?. Su+. tha^.t, ddo' chi? la` mo^.t lo^'i gia?i thi'ch\. Ly' do sa^u xa dda~ khie^'n nho'm dda?o cha'nh ngu+ng la.i, la`: ho. kho^ng tin My~ dda~ thu+.c su+. da^'n tha^n\. Ho. cho+` ddo+.i o+? My~ mt ha`nh ddo^.ng du+'t khoa't va` cu. the^?, tu+'c la` cu'p vie^.n tro+. va` tuye^n bo^' cu'p vie^.n tro+., ddie^`u ma` My~ do du+. chu+a da'm la`m\. Cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh va`o cuo^'i tha'ng 8 dda~ kho^ng xa?y ra, nhu+ My~ du+. kie^'n\. 6) Lo+`i tuye^n bo^' cu?a TT Kennedy nga`y 2/9 Vie^.c ca'c tu+o+'ng la~nh Saigon ngu+ng la.i kho^ng dda?o cha'nh, ddu.c Hoa Thi.nh DDo^'n coi nhu+ la` mo^.t tha^'t ba.i cu?a chi'nh ngu+o+`i My~\. Ho^.i ddo^`ng ANQG va` ca'c co^' va^'n to`a Ba.ch O^'c ho.p lie^n mie^n dde^? ti`m bie^.n pha'p ddo^'i pho' vo+'i ti`nh the^' mo+'i\. Va^'n dde^` anh em o^ng Die^.m bo^~ng nhie^n mang mo^.t ki'ch thu+o+'c lo+'n ho+n: ddo' la` ki'ch thu+o+'c cu?a chi'nh nghi~a Hoa Ky` trong vu`ng DDo^ng Nam A’. Ca'c o^ng Hillsman, Harrman va` Katenburg (thuo^.c bo^. ngoa.i giao) va^~n chu? tru+o+ng pha?i la^.t ddo^? o^ng Die^.m dde^? ta(ng cu+o+`ng hie^.u na(ng chie^'n dda^'u cho^'ng co^.ng cu?a mie^`n Nam, ne^'u kho^ng, ngu+o+`i My~ se~ pha?i ru't kho?i mie^`n Nam\. Ngoa.i tru+o+?ng Rusk kho^ng ddo^`ng y', o^ng chu? tru+o+ng kho^ng ru't kho?i mie^`n Nam ma` cu~ng kho^ng la^.t ddo^? Ngo^ DDi`nh Die^.m\. Rie^ng pho' to^?ng tho^'ng Johnson thi` du+'t khoa't\. Theo o^ng, ngu+o+`i My~ kho^ng ne^n la^.t ddo^? o^ng Die^.m, vi` sau ddo' se~ kho^ng ti`m ddu+o+.c ngu+o+`i la~nh dda.o co' ta^`m vo'c nhu+ o^ng Die^.m\. PTT Johnson co`n no'i: "chu'ng ta ne^n cha^'m du+'t ca'i tro` vu+`a dda'nh tro^'ng vu+`a a(n cu+o+'p va` tro+? la.i no'i chuye^.n tha(?ng vo+'i chi'nh quye^`n Saigon"\. Nguye^n va(n: we should stop playing cops and robbers and get back to talking straight to Saigon Government" (The Pentagon Paper, p\. 174) DDang khi ddo' TT Kennedy to? ra vo^ cu`ng bu+.c bo^.i. Nga`y 2/9 TT Kennedy le^n dda`i truye^`n hi`nh CBS, tuye^n bo^': "chu'ng ta tha^’y nhu+~ng cuo^.c dda`n a'p Pha^.t gia'o (ta.i mie^`n Nam VN) la` nhu+~ng ha`nh ddo^.ng cu+.c ky` thie^'u kho^n ngoan\. Va` ba^y gio+` chu'ng ta kho^ng the^? la`m gi` kha'c ho+n la` kha(?ng ddi.nh mo^.t ca'ch ro~ re^.t ra(`ng: chu'ng ta kho^ng nghi~ ddo' la` phu+o+ng thu+'c dde^? chie^'n tha('ng CS" Ky' gi?a Walter Conkrite ho?i: "Lie^.u chi'nh quye^`n Ngo^ DDi`nh Die^.m co' co`n thi` gio+` dde^? la^'y la.i su+. ha^.u thua^~n cu?a qua^`n chu'ng hay kho^ng ?" TT Kennedy tra? lo+`i: "co`n, ne^'u ho. chi.u thay ddo^?i chi'nh sa'ch, va` co' le~ thay ddo^?i ca? nha^n su+."\. Trong bo^'i ca?nh chi'nh tri. lu'c ddo', ai cu~ng hie^?u ra(`ng: khi a'm chi? dde^'n mo^.t su+. thay ddo^?i nha^n su+. trong chi'nh quye^`n Ngo^ DDi`nh Die^.m, TT Kennedy muo^'n no'i dde^'n vie^.c loa.i bo? Ngo^ DDi`nh Nhu\. DDa^y la` la^`n dda^`u tie^n trong li.ch su+? bang giao My~-Vie^.t, mo^.t vi. to^?ng tho^'ng Hoa Ky` co^ng khai va` minh thi. le^n a'n chi'nh quye^`n mie^`n Nam\. Nghie^m tro.ng ho+n, to^?ng tho^'ng Hoa Ky` dda~ co^ng khai ke^'t to^.i anh em o^ng Die^.m "dda`n a'p Pha^.t gia'o"\. To^?ng tho^'ng Hoa Ky` dda~ co^ng khai ddu+'ng va`o ha`ng ngu~ cu?a nho'm dda^'u tranh qu'a khi'ch ta.i Saigon ddang ddo`i la^.t ddo^? chi'nh quye^`n\. To^?ng tho^'ng Hoa Ky` dda~ co^ng khai ddo^`ng ho'a nho'm qu'a khi'ch a^y vo+'i Pha^.t gia'o, va` dda~ minh thi. ddo^`ng ho'a nho'm qua' khi'ch a^'y vo+'i nha^n da^n VN\. Nhu+~ng sai la^`m tho^ ba.o no'i tre^n dda~ ha^`u he^'t ddu+o+.c ca'c ta'c gi?a sau na`y phe^ pha'n nghie^m kha('c, coi ddo' nhu+ nhu+~ng xua^?n ddo^.ng cu?a chi'nh quye^`n Kennedy. Cu`ng nga`y 2/9 ta.i Saigon, to+` Times of Vietnam (cu?a chi'nh phu?) ke'o ti't lo+'n to^' ca'o CIA a^m mu+u dda?o chi'nh cho^'ng la.i chi'nh quye^`n mie^`n Nam VN\. Bang giao giu+~a dinh DDo^.c La^.p va` to`a Ba.ch O^'c dda~ ca(ng tha(?ng la.i ca`ng ca(ng tha(?ng ho+n\. Su+. kie^.n na`y dda~ ddu+o+.c nho'm dda^'u tranh qu'a khi'ch ta.i Saigon trie^.t dde^? khai tha'c\. No' cu~ng ddu+o+.c nho'm cho^'ng Ngo^ DDi`nh Die^.m trong to`a Ba.ch O^'c trie^.t dde^? khai tha'c\. DDang khi ddo', anh em o^ng Die^.m ca`ng nga`y ca`ng to? ra quye^'t lie^.t ddo^'i vo+'i nho'm dda^'u tranh qu'a khi'ch, cu~ng nhu+ do^'i vo+'i nhu+~ng ddo`i ho?i cu?a to`a Ba.ch O^'c\. 7) Co^ng ddie^.n so^' 478, dda.i su+' Lodge gu+?i bo^. ngoa.i giao Sau nhu+~ng lo+`i tuye^n bo^' cu?a TT Kennedy tre^n dda`i truye^`n hi`nh CBS, to`a Ba.ch O^'c va^~n kho^ng ti`m hu+o+'ng ddi ro~ re^.t, nha^'t la` kho^ng ti`m ddu+o+.c gia?i pha'p cho va^'n dde^` Ngo^ DDi`nh Die^.m\. Du'ng lu'c ddo' Robert Kennedy xua^'t hie^.n\. Trong mo^.t phie^n ho.p ca'c co^' va^'n ve^ chi'nh sa'ch ddo^'i ngoa.i cu?a TT Kennedy ta.i to`a Ba.ch O^'c, Robert Kennedy no'i: "Ne^'u tha^'y kho^ng the^? tha('ng ddu+o+.c chie^'n tranh VN du+o+'i ba^'t cu+' mo^.t chi'nh the^? na`o ta.i mie^`n Nam, thi` ba^y gio+` la` lu'c Hoa Ky` ne^n ru't kho?i mie^`n Nam\. Nhu+ng ne^'u nha^.n ddi.nh ra(`ng che^' ddo^. Ngo^ DDi`nh Die^.m la` mo^.t tro+? nga.i cho cuc chie^'n tha('ng, thi` dda.i su+' Lodge pha?i ddu+o+.c trao cho toa`n quye^`n ha`nh ddo^.ng dde^? ddem la.i nhu+~ng thay ddo^?i ca^`n thie^'t\. Va^'n dde^` ca('t vie^.n tro+. la.i ddu+o+.c dda(.t ra, nha^'t la` va^'n dde^` ca('t lu+o+ng cu?a Lu+.u Lu+o+.ng DDa(.c Bie^.t do dda.i ta' Le^ Quang Tung chi? huy\. Va` va^'n dde^` la^.t ddo^? chi'nh quye^`n Ngo^ DDi`nh Die^.m la.i ddu+o+.c ddem le^n tha?m xanh cu?a to`a Ba.ch O^'c\. Robert Kennedy, thay ma(.t anh ruo^.t, dde^` nghi. Ngu~ Gia'c DDa`i cho bie^'t y' kie^'n cu?a ca'c co^' va^'n qua^n su+. ta.i chie^'n tru`ng mie^`n Nam dde^? giu'p to`a Ba.ch O^'c co' du+~ kie^.n ha^`u ti`m mo^.t gia?i pha'p tho?a dda'ng va` du+'t khoa't cho va^'n dde^` VN\. DDa.i tu+o+'ng Taylor, tham mu+u tru+o+?ng lie^n qua^n HK, be`n cu+? trung tu+o+'ng Victor Krulag ddi VN\. Roger Hillsman, vi` so+. Ngu~ Gia'c DDa`i kho^ng am hie^?u chi'nh tri. va` se~ ga^y tro+? nga.i cho chu? tru+o+ng la^.t ddo^? Ngo^ DDi`nh Die^.m, cho ne^n be`n dde^` nghi. Joseph Mendenhall cu`ng ddi vo+'i tu+o+'ng Krulag\. Pha'i ddoa`n "ddi ti`m su+. tha^.t" dde^'n VN nga`y 7/9, va` tro+? va` Hoa Thi.nh DDo^'n nga`y 9/9\. Trong hai nga`y, ho. dda~ ti`m tha^'y su+. tha^.t ! Nga`y 10/9, TT Kennedy va` ca'c co^' va^'n ho.p kha^?n ca^'p ta.i to+`a Ba.c h O^'c dde^? nghe pha'i ddoa`n tu+o+`ng tri`nh ve^` chuye^'n ddi ti`m su+. tha^.t\. Theo Menenhall (thuo^c phe Hillsman) thi` chi'nh quye^`n Ngo^ Di`nh Die^.m ddang ddi dde^'n su.p ddo^? toa`n die^.n, da^n chu'ng so+. va` ghe't vo+. cho^`ng Ngo^ DDi`nh Nhu ti`nh hi`nh co' the^? ddu+a dde^'n mo^.t cuo^.c chie^'n tranh to^n gia'o, hoa(.c mo^.t phong tra`o qua^`n chu'ng ro^.ng lo+'n ddi theo VC\. Mendenhall ke^'t lua^.n: "Nhu pha?i ra ddi, ne^'u chu'ng ta muo^'n tha('ng cuo^.c chie^'n tranh VN" (Memorandum of conference with the president, sept 10, 1963, Box 316, national security files, John F\. Kennedy library, ddu+o+.c tri'ch da^~n trogn Kennedy in Vietnam, trang 135) Quan ddie^?m cu?a tu+o+'ng Krulag thi` hoa`n toa`n kha'c\. Theo tu+o+'ng Krulag thi` cuo^.c chie^'n dda^'u qua^n su+. va^~n ddang tie^'n ha`nh vo+'i mo^.t nhie^.p ddo^. dda'ng kha^m phu.c\. Cuo^.c khu?ng hoa?ng chi'nh tri. cu~ng co' a?nh hu+o+?ng dde^'n, nhu+ng kho^ng bao nhie^u, VC se~ thua, ne^'u My~ va^~n tie^'p tu.c nhu+~ng chu+o+ng tri`nh vie^.n tro+. ve^` qua^n su+. va` xa~ ho^.i, kho^ng ca^`n ly' dde^'n nhu+~ng thie^'u xo't tra^`m tro.ng cu?a chi'nh quye^`n Ngo^ DDi`nh Die^.m (Report, Visit to Vietnam, 7-8, sept 1963, Box 316, national security, JFK library, ddu+o+.c tri'ch da^~n trong Kennedy in Vietnam, trang 135) Nghe xong phu'c tri`nh ddo^'i cho.i nhau cu?a hai ngu+o+`i cu`ng ddi trong mo^.t pha'i ddoa`n ti`m su+. tha^.t, TT Kennedy chi? co`n bie^'t ke^u tro+`i. Chi'nh lu'c ddo', dda.i su+' Lodge la.i nha?y va`o vo`ng chie^'n, la^`n na`y vo+'i su+. tra('ng tro+.n va` quye^'t lie^.t i't tha^'y no+i mo^.t nha` ngoa.i giao Ta^y phu+o+ng\. Trong mo^.t co^ng ddie^.n dda(.c bie^.t gu+?i ve^` Hoa Thi.nh DDo^'ng (co^ng ddie^.n so^' 478) dda.i su+' Lodge kha(?ng ddi.nh ra(`ng: chi'nh quye^`n mie^n Nam dda~ hie^?n nhie^n ta'ch ro+`i ra kho?i thu+.c te^'\. O^ng vi' che^' ddo^. Die^.m vo+'i mo^.t chie^'c ta`u ddang chi`m da^`n xuo^'ng bie^?n\. O^ng chu? tru+o+ng chi'nh quye^`n My~ pha?i co^' ga('ng mo^.t la^`n nu+~a dde^? khi'ch le^. mo^.t cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh\. Va` o^ng ke^'t lua^.n: "dda~ dde^'n lu'c HK pha?i du`ng mo.i che^' ta`i hu+~u hie^.u co' trong tay dde^? la^.t ddo^? chi'nh quye^`n hie^.n hu+~u va` thie^'t la^.p mo^.t chi'nh quye^`n kha'c"\. Nguye^n va(n: The time has arrived for the US to use what effective sanctions it has to bring about the fall of the existing government and the in installation of another" (Telegram 478, Saigon to State, Box 316, nationalsecurity file JFK library, ddu+o+.c tri'ch da^~n trong Kennedy in Vietnam, trang 138) Trong co^ng ddie^.n, dda.i su+' Lodge co`n cho bie^'t: bie^.n pha'p che^' ta`i hu+~u hie^.u nha^'t, se~ la` ca('t vie^.n tro+. trong mt so^' la~nh vu+.c lu+.a cho.n, nhu+ mo^.t ti'n hie^.u u?ng ho^. cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh, ddie^`u ma` ca'c tu+o+'ng la~nh VN dda~ tu+`ng ye^u ca^u` ho^`i cuo^'i tha'ng 8 vu+`a qua\. 8) Co^ng ddie^.n nga`y 17/9, to`a Ba.ch O^'c gu+?i dda.i su+' Lodge. Co^ng ddie^.n so^' 478 cu?a cu?a dda.i su+' Lodge ddu+o+.c ddem ra mo^? xe? tru+o+'c hi ddo^`ng ANQG\. Va` nga`y 17/9, to`a Ba.ch O^'c gu+?i cho dda.i su+' Lodge mo^.t co^ng ddie^.n to'm ta('t va` xa'c quye^'t la^.p tru+o+`ng cu?a Ho^.i ddo^`ng ve^` nhu+~ng bie^.n pha'p do^'i pho' vo+'i ti`nh hi`nh mie^`n Nam\. Bu+'c co^ng ddie^.n go^`m 10 ddie^?m\. Du+o+'i dda^y la` nhu+~ng ddie^?m chi'nh: a/ To`a Ba.ch O^'c chu+a tha^'y co' co+ ho^.i to^'t dde^? la^.t ddo^? Ngo^ DDi`nh Die^.m lu'c na`y (ddie^?m 2 cu?a co^ng ddie^.n)\. b/ To`a Ba.ch O^'c cho phe'p dda.i su+' Lodge ddu+o+.c tu`y nghi tri` hoa~n nhu+~ng cuo^.c cung ca^'p hoa(.c chuye^?n tie^`n vie^.n tro+. cu?a ba^'t cu+' mo^.t co+ quan My~ na`o cho cha'nh quye^`n mie^`n Nam, ne^'u dda.i su+' Lodge nghi~ ra(`ng nhu+~ng cuo^.c cung ca^'p hoa(.c chuye^?n tie^`n vie^.n tro+. a^'y kho^ng co' lo+.i cho My~\. To`a Ba.ch O^'c cu~ng nha^'n ma.nh ra(`ng dda.i su+' Lodge ne^n xu+? du.ng quye^`n na`y dde^? ha.n che^' ta^'t ca? nhu+~ng hi`nh thu+'c vie^.n tro+. cho (hoa(.c qua) Ngo^ DDi`nh Nhu hoa(.c nhu+~ng ca' nha^n lie^n he^. vo+'i Nhu, ty? nhu+ Le^ Quang Tung (ddie^?m ba)\. c/ To`a Ba.c O^'c chi? thi. cho dda.i su+' Lodge pha?i buo^.c chi'nh quye^`n Ngo^ DDi`nh Die^.m pha?i ca?i thie^.n, nhu+: tha? he^'t sinh vie^n va` Pha^.t tu+?, cho ba'o chi' ddu+o+.c tu+. do ngo^n lua^.n, gio+'i ha.n ma^.t vu. va` ca?nh sa't chie^'n dda^'u va`o nhie^.m vu. ha`nh qua^n tie^?u tru+` VN thay vi` thie^?u tru+` ddo^'i la^.p, ca?i to^? no^.i ca'c, cha^'p nha^.n tu+. do ba^`u cu+. cha^'p nha^.n pha'i ddoa`n Pha^.t gia'o quo^'c te^' dde^'n ddie^`u tra ta.i VN, hu?y bo? du. so^' 10 (ddie^?m 4) d/ To`a Ba.ch O^'c chi? thi. dda.i su+' Lodge pha?i la`m a'p lu+.c buo^.c Ngo^ DDi`nh Nhu ra kho?i VN (ddie^?m 6) e/ To`a Ba.c O^'c khuye^n dda.i su+' Lodge ne^n mo+? la.i va` tie^'p tu.c ddo^'i thoa.i vo+'i TT Die^.m va` tha^u lu+o+.m tin tu+'c ti`nh ba'o (ddie^?m 8) f/ To`a Ba.ch O^'c khuye^n cho+` ddo+.i y' kie^'n cu?a dda.i su+' Lodge ddo^'i vo+'i chu+o+ng tri`nh pha'c ho.a o+? tre^n, tru+o+'c khi to`a Ba.ch O^'c co' quye^'t ddi.nh cuo^'i cu`ng\. DDa^y chi? la` mo^.t ke^' hoa.ch ta.m tho+`i (Telegram 63516, White House to Lodge Sept 17, 63, The Pentagon Papers, p\. 206) DDo.c bu+'c co^ng ddie^.n tre^n, chu'ng ta tha^'y to`a Ba.ch O^'c va^~n giu+~ vu+~ng chu? tru+o+ng pha?i la^.t ddo^? o^ng Die^.m\. Nhu+ng vi` chu+a co' co+ ho^.i to^'t dde^? la^.t ddo^? o^ng Die^.m, ne^n to`a Ba.ch O^'c pha?i ddu+a ra mo^.t ke^' hoa.c ta.m tho+`i dde^? ddo^'i pho' vo+'i ti`nh hi`nh to`a Ba.ch O^'c ban cho dda.i su+' Lodge toa`n quye^`n tu chi'nh\. Va` to`a Ba.ch O^'c se~ chi? ddu+a ra quye^'t ddi.nh cuo^'i cu`ng, sau khi nha^.n ddu+o+.c phu'c dda'p cu?a dda.i su+' Lodge. 9) Co^ng ddie^.n nga`y 19/9, dda.i su+' Lodge gu+?i TT Kennedy. Co^ng ddie^.n no'i tre^n cu?a to`a Ba.ch O^'c kho^ng la`m cho dda.i su+' Lodge ha`i lo`ng\. O^ng kho^ng muo^'n tie^'p xu'c vo+'i o^ng Die^.m\. O^ng cho ra(`ng: dde^` nghi. ca?i to^? cu~ng nhu+ ddo`i o^ng Die^.m pha?i loa.i bo? Ngo^ DDi`nh Nhu, la` mo^.t vie^.c la`m vo^ i'ch\. Tru+o+'c sau, o^ng va^~n chu? tru+o+ng pha?i la^.t ddo^? o^ng Die^.m dde^? ca?i thie^.n mie^`n Nam\. Nga`y 19/9, dda.i su+' Lodge gu+?i cho TT Kennedy mo^.t co^ng ddie^.n go^`m 11 ddie^?m\. Du+o+'i dda^y la` nhu+~ng ddie^?m chi'nh: a/ DDo^`ng y' vo+'i to`a Ba.ch O^'c ra(`ng hie^.n nay chu+a co' co+ ho^.i to^'t dde^? la^.t ddo^? Die^.m, vi` va^.y pha?i ta.m tho+`i la`m ba^'t cu+' nhu+~ng gi` chu'ng ta co' the^? la`m ddu+o+.c, trong khi cho+` ddo+.i co+ ho^.i ddo' dde^'n (ddie^?m 1)\. b/ Kho^ng ky` vo.ng la('m va`o nhu+~ng cuo^.c tie^'p xu'c vo+'i Die^.m, cu~ng nhu+ kho^ng ky` vo.ng la('m va`o nhu+~ng hu+'a he.n ca?i to^? cu?a Die^.m (ddie^?m 2)\. c/ Kho^ng nghi~ ra(`ng vie^.c co^ng khai tie^'p xu'c vo+'i Die^.m co' the^? gia?i quye^'t tho?a dda'ng nhu+~ng va^'n dde^` ma` ti`nh the^' dda(.t ra\. Theo Duo+ng va(n Minh cho bie^'t mo+'i dda^y, thi`: VC ca`ng nga`y ca`ng lo+'n ma.nh, ca`ng ddu+o+.c lo`ng da^n, nhu+~ng cuo^.c ba('t bo+' va^~n tie^'p tu.c, ca'c nha` tu` dda^`y a^'p, the^m nhie^`u sinh vie^n dda~ ddi theo VC, chi'nh quye^`n ca`ng nga`y ca`ng tham nhu~ng va` a(n ca('p tie^`n vie^.n tro+. My~ (ddie^?m 4) d/ DDang nghie^n cu+'u bie^.n pha'p nga(n cha(.n vie^.n tro+. dde^? tru+`ng pha.t Die^.m Nhu ma` kho^ng ga^y ra su+. su.p ddo^? vo+~ kinh te^' va` tro+? nga.i cho no^~ lu+.c chie^'n dda^'u cu?a qua^n ddi (ddie^?m 5)\. e/ DDe^` nghi. to`a Ba.ch O^'c cu+'u xe't va^'n dde^` u?ng ho^. mo^.t qua^n ddo^.i bie^.t la^.p vo+'i chi'nh quye^`n Ngo^ DDi`nh Die^.m\. Bu+'c co^ng ddie^.n vie^'t nhu+ sau: "To^i cu~ng nghi~ ra(`ng ba^'t cu+' bie^.n pha'p che^' ta`i na`o ma` chu'ng ta ti`m ddu+o+.c, pha?i ddu+o+.c tru+.c tie^'p no^'i lie^`n vo+'i mo^.t cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh co' trie^?n vo.ng tha`nh co^ng\. Ngoa`i vie^~n tu+o+.ng no'i tre^n, ca'c bie^.n pha'p che^' ta`i a^'y se~ kho^ng ddu+o+.c a'p du.ng\. Trong hu+o+'ng ddo', to^i nghi~ ra(`ng chu'ng ta ne^n tie^'p tu.c tie^'p xu'c vo+'i Big Minh va` thu'c giu.c o^ng ta tie^'n to+'i, ne^'u o^ng ta xem ra co`n muo^'n ha`nh ddo^.ng\. To^i (Cabot Lodge) dda(.c bie^.t nghi~ ra(`ng to`a Ba.ch O^'c ne^n nghie^m chi?nh cu+'u xe't va^'n dde^` u?ng ho^. mo^.t qua^n ddo^.i VN bie^.t la^.p vo+'i chi'nh quye^`n"\. Nguye^~n va(n ca^u cuo^'i cu`ng: I particularly think that the idea of supporting a Vietnamese Army independent of the government should be energically studied\. (Cablegram 544, ambassador Lodge to State dept., "For President only", sept 19, 63, The Pentagon Papers, p\. 208-209) Chu'ng ta ca^`n ghi nha^.n nhu+~ng ddie^`u sau dda^y, lie^n quan to+'i bu+'c co^ng ddie^.n no'i tre^n\. 1/ DDa.i su+' Lodge ba'c bo? vie^.c mo+? la.i nhu+~ng cuo^.c tie^'p xu'c vo+'i o^ng Die^.m\. O^ng va^~n chu? tru+o+ng pha?i la^t ddo^? Ngo^ DDi`nh Die^.m\. 2/ DDa.i su+' Lodge du`ng lo+`i le~ cu?a tu+o+'ng Du+o+ng Va(n Minh dde^? le^n a'n TT Ngo^ DDi`nh Die^.m\. 3/ DDa.i su+' Lodge chu? tru+o+ng pha?i tie^'p tu.c tie^'p xu'c vo+'i tu+o+'ng Du+o+ng va(n Minh, thu'c du.c tu+o+'ng Minh la`m dda?o cha'nh\. 4/ DDa.i su+' Lodge thu'c du.c to`a Ba.ch O^'c pha?i cu+'u xe't va^'n dde^` u?ng ho^. "mo^.t qua^n ddi VN ddo^.c la^.p vo+'i chi'nh quye^`n trung u+o+ng"\. No'i ca'ch kha'c, mo^.t qua^n ddo^.i VN kho^ng chi.u me^.nh le^.nh cu?a vi. to^?ng tho^'ng kie^m To^?ng Tu+ Le^.nh To^'i Cao QLVNCH\. No'i ca'ch kha'c; mo^.t qua^n ddi kho^ng na(`m trong he^. tho^'ng chi'nh quye^`n ho+.p hie^'n cu?a quo^'c gia mie^`n Nam\. No'i ca'ch kha'c: mo^.t qua^n ddi chi.u me^.nh le^.nh cu?a ngoa.i bang va` phu.c vu. ngoa.i bang trong nhu+~ng mu+u ddo^` ba^'t chi'nh cu?a ngoa.i bang\. Giu+~a tha'ng 1/63, mo^.t pha't ddoa`n go^`m to^?ng tru+o+?ng quo^'c pho`ng McNamara va` dda.i tu+o+'ng Taylor ddu+o+.c TT Kennedy cu+? sang VN dde^? tha^?m ddi.nh ti`nh the^', ddo^`ng tho+`i u+o+'c ti'nh trie^?n vo.ng ve^` mo^.t cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh ta.i mie^`n Nam\. Pha'i ddoa`n ro+`i Saigon nga`y 2/10\. Ba?n phu'c tri`nh cu?a ho. la.c quan vi` ti`nh hi`nh qua^n su+., nhu+ng bi quan vi` ti`nh hi`nh chi'nh tri\. Ho. khuye^'n ca'o TT Kennedy pha?i a'p du.ng nhu+~ng bie^.n pha'p che^' ta`i ve^` kinh te^' ddo^'i vo+'i TT Die^.m\. Mo^.t trong nhu+~ng bie^.n pha'p dde^` nghi. la`: ngu+ng vie^.n tro+. cho chi'nh quye^`n Ngo^ DDi`nh Die^.m\. Mo^.t ddie^?m dda'ng ghi nha^.n la`: trong chuye^'n ddi, tu+o+'ng Taylor va` to^?ng tru+o+?ng quo^'c pho`ng McNamra ddi ddi'ch tha^n dde^'n tha(m tu+o+'ng Du+o+ng Va(n Minh\..... 10/ Co^ng ddie^.n nga`y 5/10, dda.i su+' Lodge gu+?i Bo^. Ngoa.i Giao Nga`y 2/10, khi pha'i ddoa`n McNamara-Taylor ro+`i Saigon dde^? tro+? ve^` Hoa Thi.nh DDo^'n, thi` Lucien Conein ddu+o+.c le^.nh cu?a dda.i su+' Lodge pha?i mo+? la.i nhu+~ng cuo^.c tie^'p xu'c vo+'i tu+o+'ng Tra^`n va(n DDo^n\. Hai ngu+o+`i ga(.p nhau ta.i bo+` bie^?n Nha Trang\. Trong cuo^.c ga(.p go+~, tu+o+'ng DDo^n cho Conein bie^'t: nho'm dda?o cha'nh dda~ thuye^'t phu.c ddu+o+.c tu+o+'ng To^n Tha^'t DDi'nh, va` qua^n ddi dda~ sa(~n sa`ng dde^? la^.t ddo^? o^ng Die^.m\. Tu+o+'ng DDo^n cu~ng ye^u ca^`u Conein ddi'ch tha^n dde^'n ga(.p tu+o+'ng Minh\. Nga`y 5/10, dda.i su+' Lodge gu+?i ve^` bo^. ngoa.i giao mo^.t co^ng ddie^.n go^`m 10 ddie^?m dde^? tu+o+`ng tri`nh ve^` cuo^.c tie^'p xu'c giu+~a Conein va` tu+o+'ng Minh\. Du+o+'i dda^y la` nhu+~ng ddie^?m chi'nh: a/ Trung ta' Lucien Conein tie^'p xu'c vo+'i Du+o+ng va(n Minh trong mo^.t gio+` mu+o+`i phu't , ta.i ba?n doanh cu?a Du+o+ng va(n Minh ddu+o+`ng Le^ va(n Duye^.t\. Conein dda~ ddu+o+.c phe'p cu?a to`a dda.i su+' dde^? la`m vie^.c na`y. Ho. chi? co' hai ngu+o+`i va` no'i vo+'i nhau ba(`ng tie^'ng Pha'p (ddie^?m 1)\. b/ Du+o+ng va(n Minh no'i vo+'i Conein ra(`ng o^ng ta ca^`n pha?i bie^'t ro~ la^.p tru+o+`ng cu?a chi'nh quye^`n My~ ddo^'i vo+'i mo^.t cuo^.c thay ddo^?i chi'nh quye^`n ta.i mie^`n Nam trong mo^.t tu+o+ng lai ra^'t ga^`n\. Du+o+ng va(n Minh cho bie^'t: nho'm dda?o cha'nh, ngoa`i o^ng ta ra, go^`m ca'c tu+o+'ng Tra^`n va(n DDo^n, Le^ va(n Kim va` Tra^`n thie^.n Khie^m (ddie^?m 2)\. c/ Du+o+ng va(n Minh cho bie^'t o^ng ta kho^ng ky` vo.ng mo^.t su+. giu'p ddo+~ dda(.c bie^.t na`o cu?a My~ trong vie^.c thay ddo^?i chi'nh quye^`n, nhu+ng o^ng ta ra^'t ca^`n chi'nh quye^`n My~ cam ke^'t ra(`ng se~ kho^ng ti`m ca'ch la`m ho?ng ke^' hoa.ch cu?a o^ng ta (ddie^?m 3)\. d/ Du+o+ng va(n Minh pha'c ho.a ba ke^' hoa.ch dde^? thay ddo^?i chi'nh quye^`n\. Thu+' nha^'t, a'm sa't Ngo^ DDi`nh Nhu, Ngo^ DDi`nh Ca^?n va` giu+~ TT Die^.m la.i. Thu+' hai bao va^y thu? ddo^ Saigon ba(`ng nhu+~ng ddo+n vi. kha'c nhau, dda(.c bie^.t la` nhu+~ng ddo+n vi. ddo^`n tru' ta.i Be^'n Ca't\. Thu+' ba: tru+.c tie^'p gia`n qua^n dda'nh nhau vo+'i qua^n chi'nh phu?. Du+o+ng va(n Minh cho bie^'t Nhu co' the^? tro^ng ca^.y va`o mo^.t so^' qua^n trung tha`nh khoa?ng 5,500 binh si~ (ddie^?m 5)\. e/ Du+o+ng va(n Minh cho bie^'t ba ngu+o+`i nguy hie^?m nha^'t mie^`n Nam la` Ngo^ DDi`nh Nhu, Ngo^ DDi`nh Ca^?n va` Ngo^ Tro.ng Hie^'u\. Conein no'i: Le^ Quang Tung la` ngu+o+`i dda'ng so+. ho+n, thi` Du+o+ng va(n Minh tra? lo+`i: Khi to^i loa.i tru+` ddu+o+.c Nhu, Ca^?n va` Hie^'u ro^`i, thi` Tung se~ qu`y xuo^'ng tru+o+'c ma(.t to^i (ddie^?m 7)\. f/ Du+o+ng va(n Minh no'i ra(`ng o^ng ta ra^'t tha('c ma('c ve^` vai tro` cu?a Tra^`n Thie^.n Khie^m\. Tra^`n Thie^.n Khie^m co' the^? dda~ ddi ha`ng hai trong vu. tha'ng 8 vu+`a qua. Tru+o+'c ddo', CIA dda~ ddu+a cho Khie^m ho.a ddo^` ca(n cu+' Long Tha`nh va` ba?n ke^ khai vu~ khi' ta.i ca(n cu+' na`y dde^? Khie^m trao la.i cho Du+o+ng va(n Minh\. Nay Du+o+ng va(n Minh muo^'n co' ba?n sao nhu+~ng ta`i lie^.u ddo' dde^? ddo^'i chie^'u vo+'i nhu+~ng ta`i lie^.u ma` Khie^m dda~ trao cho o^ng ta (ddie^?m 8)\. g/ Du+o+ng va(n Minh cho bie^'t mo^.t trong nhu+~ng ly' do khie^'n o^ng ta pha?i ha`nh ddo^.ng ga^'p ru't, la`: nhie^`u si~ quan chi? huy trung ddoa`n, tie^?u ddoa`n va` dda.i ddi cu~ng ddang tu+. ddo^.ng ddu+'ng ra to^? chu+'c nhu+ng cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh rie^ng, ho. co' the^? tha^'t ba.i va` di ha.i cho dda.i cuo^.c (ddie^?m 9) (Telegram 1445, Lodge to State, oct 5, 63, The Pentagon Papers, p\. 213)\. Chu'ng ta ne^n ghi nha^.n nhu+~ng ddie^?m quan tro.ng sau dda^y: Thu+' nha^'t: tru+o+'c khi dda?o cha'nh, tu+o+'ng Du+o+ng va(n Minh muo^'n bie^'t ro~ la^.p tru+o+`ng du+'t khoa't cu?a Hoa Ky` ve^` vie^.c thay ddo^?i chi'nh quye^`n Ngo^ DDi`nh Die^.m\. DDa^y la` mo^.t hi`nh thu+'c xin phe'p, tru+o+'c khi ha`nh ddo^.ng\. Nho'm tu+o+'ng la~nh VN chi? da'm dda?o cha'nh, khi bie^'t cha('c My~ cho phe'p dda?o cha'nh va` ba^.t dde`n xanh cho phe'p dda?o cha'nh\. Thu+' hai: CIA My~ dda~ ve~ ho.a ddo^` ca(n cu+' Long Tha`nh (tu+'c ca(n cu+' cu?a Lu+.c Lu+o+.ng DDa(.c Bie^.t trung tha`nh vo+'i o^ng Die^.m), va` la^.p ba?n ke^ khai vu~ khi' cu?a ca(n cu+' na`y trao cho nho'm tu+o+'ng la~nh dda?o cha'nh\. Cu~ng nga`y 5/10, dda.i su+' Lodge go+?i the^m mo^.t ddie^.n va(n nu+~a ve^` bo^. ngoa.i giao dde^` nghi. cho phe'p Conein, trong cuo^.c tie^'p xu'c la^`n to+'i vo+'i tu+o+'ng Du+o+ng va(n Minh, ddu+o+.c: thu+' nha^'t, hu+'a vo+'i tu+o+'ng Minh ra(`ng Hoa Ky` se~ kho^ng ti`m ca'ch la`m ho?ng cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh cu?a o^ng ta\. Thu+' hai: cam ke^'t vo+'i tu+o+'ng Minh ra(`ng HK se~ tie^'p tu.c vie^.n tro+. cho VN sau khi dda?o cha'nh, mie^~n la` chi'nh quye^`n mo+'i hu+'a tranh thu? nha^n ta^m va` chie^'n tha('ng CS (The Pentagon Papers, p\. 215)\. 11/ Co^ng ddie^.n nga`y 5/10, TT Kennedy gu+?i dda.i su+' Lodge. Cu~ng nga`y 5/10, TT Kennedy gu+?i ma^.t ddie^.n, ra chi? thi. cho dda.i su+' Lodge kho^ng ne^n nga^`m khuye^'n khi'ch mo^.t cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh\. Nhu+ng o^ng cu~ng chi? thi. cho dda.i su+' Lodge pha?i ca^'p to^'c bi' ma^.t nha^.n die^.n va` tie^'p xu'c vo+'i nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i co' the^? thay the^' o^ng Die^.m\. O^ng ca(n da(.n dda.i su+' Lodge pha?i tuye^.t ddo^'i bi' ma^.t va` ha`nh ddng kho^n khe'o, dde^? sau na`y chi'nh quye^`n My~ co' the^? cho^'i ca~i mo^.t ca'ch de^~ da`ng la` dda~ kho^ng nhu'ng ta va`o vu. la^.t ddo^? Ngo^ DDinh Die^.m (Telegram 63560, White House to Lodge Aug 5, 63, The Pentagon Papers p\. 215)\. Chu'ng ta nga.c nhie^n ve^` tha'i ddo^. kho' hie^?u va` dda^`y ma^u thua^?n cu?a TT Kennedy. O^ng chi? thi. cho dda.i su+' Lodge pha?i ca^'p to^'c bi' ma^.t nha^.n die^.n va` tie^'p xu'c vo+'i nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i co' the^? thay the^' o^ng Die^.m\. Su+. tha^.t, kho^ng co' gi` kho' hie^?u. TT Kennedy dda~ gu+?i ma^.t ddie^.n no'i tre^n, tru+o+'c khi nha^.n ddu+o+.c bu+'c co^ng ddie^.n so^' 1445 mu`ng 5 tha'ng 10 cu?a dda.i su+' Lodge cho bie^'t ru+o+'ng Du+o+ng va(n Minh dda~ sa(~n sa`ng dde^? la^.t ddo^? o^ng Die^.m\. Sau khi nha^.n ddu+o+.c co^ng ddie^.n 1445 ba'o tin tu+o+'ng Du+o+ng va(n Minh dda~ sa(~n sa`ng dde^? dda?o cha'nh, TT Kennedy gu+?i ngay ddie^.n va(n du+o+'i dda^y cho dda.i su+' Lodge. 12/ DDie^.n va(n nga`y 6/10, TT Kennedy gu+?i dda.i su+' Lodge. DDie^.n va(n na`y co' hai ddoa.n quan tro.ng\. DDoa.n mo^.t co' ca^u sau dda^y: "DDa`nh ra(`ng chu'ng ta kho^ng muo^'n xu'i du.c mo^.t cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh, nhu+ng chu'ng ta cu~ng kho^ng ne^n dde^? la.i ca?m tu+o+?ng ra(`ng HK se~ nga(n cha(.n mo^.t cuo^.c thay ddo^?i chi'nh quye^`n va` se~ tu+` cho^'i vie^.n tro+. kinh te^' va` qua^n su+. cho che^' ddo^. mo+'i"\. DDoa.n hai cu?a ddie^.n va(n co' ddoa.n sau dda^y: "ve^` va^'n dde^` dda(.c bie^.t cu?a Du+o+ng va(n Minh, o^ng dda.i su+' pha?i nghie^m chi?nh nghi~ dde^'n vie^.c cho nha^n vie^n (tu+'c Conein) dde^'n no'i vo+'i Minh ra(`ng: trong ti`nh tra.ng hie^?u bie^'t hie^.n ta.i cu?a nha^n vie^n, nha^n vie^n kho^ng the^? nghie^m chi?nh dde^. tri`nh va^'n dde^` le^n ca^'p tre^n cu+'u xe't Muo^'n tri`nh le^n ca^'p tre^n va` ddu+o+.c ca^'p tre^n cu+'u xe't, nha^n vie^n ca^`n pha?i co' nhu+~ng chi tie^'t chu+'ng to? mo^.t ca'ch ro~ re^.t ra(`ng ke^' hoa.ch cu?a Minh co' nhie^`u trie^?n vo.ng tha`nh co^ng\. Vo+'i tin tu+'c ddu+o+.c cung ca^'p cho to+'i nay, nha^n vie^n kho^ng tha^'y co' trie^?n vo.ng ddo'\. (Telegram 74228, White House to Lodge, Oct 6, 63, The Pentagon Papers, p\. 216) Chu'ng ta nha^.n tha^'y ro~ su+. ba^'t lu+o+ng va` dda.o ddu+'c gi?a cu?a nhu+~ng ke? ma` pho' to^?ng tho^'ng Johnson dda~ go.i la` "vu+`a dda'nh tro^'ng vu+`a a(n cu+o+'p"\. TT Kennedy va` nhu+~ng co^' va^'n to`a Ba.ch O^'c tu+o+?ng ra(ng vo+'i lua^.n ddie^.u "kho^ng khuye^'n khi'ch cuc dda?o cha'nh va` cu~ng kho^ng nga(n ca?n cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh", ho. co' the^? ru+?a sa.ch hai ba`n tay nho+ ba^?n cu?a ho. tru+o+'c li.ch su+. Quye^?n "Kennedy in Vietnam" mi?a mai nhu+ sau: "su+. pha^n bie^.t giu+~a khuye^'n khi'ch mo^.t cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh" vo+'i "kho^ng la`m ho?ng mo^.t cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh" la` mo^.t lo^'i cho+i chu+~ la('t le'o kho^ng dde^'m xi?a gi` dde^'n a?nh hu+o+?ng cu?a My~ ta.i mie^`n Nam, Vie^.c My~ hu+'a u?ng ho^. kinh te^' qua^n su+. cho nho'm dda?o cha'nh se~ co' ha^.u qu?a khuye^'n khi'ch ca'c tu+o+'ng la~nh la`m dda?o cha'nh, cu~ng nhu+ vie^.c My~ dde do.a tu+` cho^'i vie^.n tro+. dda~ tu+`ng co' ha^.u qu?a la`m na?n lo`ng nhie^`u vu. a^m mu+u dda?o cha'nh tru+o+'c ddo'" (sa'ch dda~ da^~n, trang 148)\. William Colby, cu+.u gia'm ddo^'c CIA ta.i VN, sau na`y cu~ng no'i: "trong ca'c co^ng ddie^.n, ngu+o+`i ta cu+' nha('c ddi nha('c la.i ra(`ng chi'nh ca'c tu+o+'ng la~nh VN mo+'i la` ke? se~ quye^'t ddi.nh ve^` vie^.c la^.t do^? o^ng Die^.m, chu+' kho^ng pha?i chu'ng ta\. Lua^.n ddie^.u na`y de^~ nghe la('m, nhu+ng tha^.t ra no' pha?n la.i thu+.c te^', ne^'u ba.n nghi~ dde^'n ca'i tu+ the^' cu+.c ky` quan tro.ng cu?a ngu+o+`i My~ ta.i VN" (sa'ch dda~ da^~n, trang 148)\. Chu'ng ta cu~ng tha^'y ro~ TT Kennedy quye^'t ta^m va` mong muo^'n la^.t ddo^? TT Die^.m\. Khi ddu+o+.c bie^'t ro~ y' ddi.nh cu?a tu+o+'ng Du+o+ng va(n Minh muo^'n dda?o cha'nh, o^ng vo^.i va`ng ra chi? thi. cho to`a da.i su+' pha?i la^.p tu+'c pho^'i kie^?m xem ke^' hoa.ch dda?o cha'nh co' nhie^`u trie^?n vo.ng tha`nh co^ng hay kho^ng\. Ta.i sao TT Kennedy la.i muo^'n bie^'t ddie^`u ddo' \? Ca^u tra? lo+`i na(`m ngay trong ca^u ho?i\. TT Kennedy muo^'n bie^'t ro~, dde^? co`n ba^.t dde`n xanh cho ca'c tu+o+'ng la~nh kho+?i su+.\. 13/ Co^ng ddie^.n nga`y 25/10, dda.i su+' Lodge go+?i Bundy. Nga`y 6/10, chi'nh quye^`n Kennedy ca('t vie^.n tro+ Ti'n hie^.u dda~ ddu+o+.c ddu+a va`o ba(ng ta^`n va` ddu+o+.c go+?i dde^'n ca'c tu+o+'ng la~nh VN\. Saigon le^n co+n so^'t dda?o cha'nh\. Nho'm tu+o+'ng la~nh pha?n loa.n coi do' nhu+ la` mo^.t ba(`ng co+' cu. the^? chu+'ng minh to`a Ba.ch O^'c dda~ thu+.c su+. da^'n tha^n va` thu+.c su+. u?ng ho^. vie^.c la^.t o^ng Die^.m\. Tin ddo^`n se~ co' dda?o cha'nh va` cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh ddu+o+.c My~ u?ng ho^. lan tra`n trong da^n chu'ng nhu+ kho'i thuo^'c pha'o\. Rie^ng to`a dda.i su+' My~ ta.i Saigon, ho. do^`n mo.i no^~ lu+.c dde^? cha.y ddua vo+'i kim ddo^`ng ho^` trong vie^.c tie^'p su'c vo+'i ca'c tu+o+'ng la~nh\. Nga`y 25/10, dda.i su+' Lodge gu+?i co^ng ddie^.n so^' 1964 cho George Bundy, co^' va^'n anh ninh quo^'c gia HK\. Bu+'c co^ng ddie^.n go^`m 8 ddie^?m\. Du+o+'i dda^y la` nhu+~ng ddie^?m chi'nh: a/ Nha^n vie^n cu?a to^i (Lucien Conein) va^~n thi ha`nh nghie^m chi?nh nhu+~ng chi? thi. cu?a to^i\. Chi'nh to^i ddi'ch tha^n cha^'p thua^.n mo.i cuo^.c ga(.p go+~ gu+~a Conein va` DDo^n (ddie^?m 2 cu?a bu+'c co^ng ddie^.n)\. b/ DDo^n va` ca'c tu+o+'ng la~nh cu?a o^ng ta ddang thu+.c su+. ti`m ca'ch thu+.c hie^.n mo^.t su+. thay ddo^?i trong chi'nh quye^`n\. To^i kho^ng tin ra(`ng dda^y la` mo^.t cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh gi?a cu?a Ngo^ DDi`nh Nhu . Trong tru+o+`ng ho+.p cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh tha^.t bi. tha^'t ba.i, cu~ng nhu+ trong tru+o+`ng ho+.p cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh CIA cu?a Nhu tha`nh co^ng, to^i tin ra(ng su+. lie^n he^. cu?a chu'ng ta cho to+'i nga`y ho^n nay qua Lucien Conein va^~n co`n la` ddie^`u co' the^' de^~ da`ng cho^'i ca~i\. Co+ quan CIA hoa`n toa`n sa(~n sa`ng dde^? cho to^i co' the^? phu? nha^.n Conein ba^'t cu+' lu'c na`o (ddie^?m 4)\. c/ Chu'ng ta kho^ng muo^'n la`m ho?ng mo^.t cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh cu~ng nhu+ chu'ng ta kho^ng co' ngay ca? tu+' the^' dde^? la`m ho?ng mo^.t cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh, khi ma` chu'ng ta kho^ng bie^'t ro~ nhu+~ng gi` ddang xa?y ra (ddie^?m 5)\. d/ Chu'ng ta kho^ng ne^n la`m ho?ng mo^.t cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh, vi` hai ly' do\. Thu+' nha^'t, cha('c cha('n chi'nh quye^`n ke^' tie^'p se~ kho^ng vu.ng ve^` va` kho^ng ha`nh ddo^.ng sai la^`m nhu+ chi'nh quye^`n hie^.n hu+~u. Thu+' hai, ne^'u chu'ng ta do^.i nu+o+'c la.nh tre^n nhu+~ng cuc a^m mu+u dda?o cha'nh, nha^'t la` trong khi nhu+~ng cuo^.c a^m mu+u a^'y ddang o+? trong tho+`i ky` ba('t dda^`u, thi` ddo' la` mo^.t ddie^`u cu+.c ky` tha^’t sa'ch cho chu'ng ta ve^` la^u ve` da`i\. Chu'ng ta ne^n nho+' ra(`ng dda?o cha'nh la` phu+o+ng thu+'c ddo^.c nha^'t dde^? nha^n da^n VN co' the^? thu+.c hie^.n mo^.t cuo^.c thay ddo^?i chi'nh quye^`n (ddie^?m 6)\. e/ Tu+o+'ng DDo^n cho bie^'t se~ kho^ng co' ky` thi. to^n gia'o trong chi'nh phu? tu+o+ng lai\. Y' ddi.nh ddo' dda'ng khen\. Va` to^i hoan nghe^nh y' cu?a o^ng ta kho^ng muo^'n la`m mo^.t thu+' "chu+ ha^`u" cu?a My. To^i muo^'n the^m hai ddo`i ho?i\. Thu+' nha^'t, kho^ng ne^n thanh tru+`ng toa`n the^? nha^n vie^.n trong chi'nh quye^`n\. Nhu+~ng ca' nha^n na`o dda(.c bie^.t dda'ng bi. tra'ch cu+' co' the^? bi. mang ra tru+o+'c pha'p lua^.t sau na`y dde^? xe't xu+. Thu+' hai, to^i ddang nghi~ dde^'n mt chi'nh quye^`n trong ddo' co' Tri' Quang va` nhu+~ng nha^n va^.t ta^`m vo'c nhu+ Tra^`n Quo^'c Bu+?u, chu? ti.ch nghie^.p ddoa`n lao ddo^.ng (ddie^?m 7)\. DDo.c bu+'c ddie^.n ti'n tre^n dda^y, chu'ng ta tha^'y nhu+~ng mo'ng vuo^'t nho.n hoa('t va` lo^ng la' cu?a My~ dda~ ca('m sau lu't va`o va^.n me^.nh mie^`n Nam\. Ho. sa('p dda(.t cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh cho mie^`n Nam va` sa('p dda(.t luo^n ca? tha`nh pha^`n chi'nh phu? tu+o+ng lai mie^`n Nam\. Mo^.t ddie^`u ma` chu'ng ta kho^ng the^? kho^ng nhi`n tha^'y la` su+. thie^'u tha`nh tha^.t cu?a dda.i su+' Lodge, ne^'u kho^ng no'i la` ba^'t lu+o+ng\. O^ng va^~n la^.p di la^.p la.i ra(`ng: My~ kho^ng ne^n la`m ho?ng cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh, cha(?ng nhu+~ng va^.y o^ng co`n kha(?ng ddi.nh ra(`ng My~ kho^ng co' ngay ca? kha? na(ng dde^? la`m ddie^`u ddo'\. Vie^'t nhu+ va^.y, o^ng dda~ que^n bu+'c co^ng ddie^.n so^' 375 trong ddo' o^ng ddo`i to`a Ba.ch O^'c pha?i trie^.t dde^? u?ng ho^. ca'c tuo+'ng la~nh trong vie^.c la^.t ddo^? o^ng Die^.m\. Trong bu+'c co^ng ddie^.n ddo', o^ng dda~ vie^'t: "co+ may tha`nh co^ng cu?a cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh tu`y thuo^.c va`o ca'c tu+o+'ng la~nh VN mt mu+'c ddo^. na`o ddo', nhu+ng cu~ng tu`y thuo^.c va`o chu'ng ta, i't nha^'t cu~ng co' mo^.t mu+'c ddo^. ddo'" (Telegram 375, Lodge to Stat, Aug 29, 1963)\. 14/ Co^ng ddie^.n nga`y 30/10, Bundy gu+?i dda.i su+' Lodge Bu+'c co^ng ddie^.n nga`y 25/10 cu?a dda.i su+' Lodge va^~n kho^ng tra^'n an ddu+o+.c TT Kennedy. Tha^m ta^m TT Kenedy ra^'t muo^'n la^.t ddo^? TT Ngo^ DDi`nh Die^.m, nhu+ng o^ng la.i so+. tha^'t ba.i va` bi. che^ cu+o+`i nhu+ o^ng dda~ tha^'t ba.i va` bi. che^ cu+o+`i trong a^m mu+u la^.t ddo^? Fidel Castro ho^`i tha'ng 4/1961\. O^ng so+. ma^'t uy ti'n tru+o+'c du+ lua^.n trong nu+o+'c va` ngoa`i nu+o+'c\. La^`n na`y, la^.t ddo^? Ngo^ DDi`nh Die^.m o^ng chu? tru+o+ng "dda~ ra tay la` pha?i tha('ng"\. Nhu+ng, nhu+~ng tin tu+'c cu?a dda.i su+' Lodge gu+?i ve^` dda~ kho^ng ddu? dde^? cho o^ng tin mo^.t ca'ch cha('c cha('n ra(`ng cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh se~ tha`nh co^ng\. Vi` va^.y, ngay sau khi nha^.n ddu+o+.c co^ng ddie^.n nga`y 25/10 cu?a dda.i su+' Lodge, George Bundy, vi. co^' va^'n ddu+o+.c ti'n nhie^.m nha^'t ta.i to`a Ba.ch O^'c dda~ ddu+o+.c le^.nh pha?i ca^'p to^'c gu+?i ngay to^'i ho^m ddo' bu+'c co^ng ddie^.n so^' 63590 no'i ro~ cho dda.i su+' Lodge bie^'t ra(`ng TT va^~n lo nga.i kho^ng tha`nh co^ng\. (Telegram 63590, Bundy to Lodge, Oct 25, 1963, Box 201, national security files, JFK library)\. Bo^'n nga`y sau, nga`y 29/10, dda.i su+' Lodge ba'o cho to`a Ba.c O^'c bie^'t: mo^.t cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh sa('p xa?y ra\. O^ng quan nie^.m ra(`ng: Hoa Ky` kho^ng ne^n cu~ng nhu+ kho^ng the^? nga(n cha(.n ddu+o+.c cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh, tru+` phi ddi ba'o cho Die^.m va` Nhu+ bie^'t, mo^.t ha`nh ddo^.ng se~ ddem la.i o^ nhu.c cho HK (The Overthrow of Ngo Dinh Diem, United States - Vietnam Relation III, pg 46)\. TT Kennedy va^~n kho^ng an ta^m\. O^ng so+. ca'c tu+o+'ng la~nh VN se~ tha^'t ba.i, va` su+. tha^'t ba.i a^'y se~ ke'o theo ta^'t ca? uy ti'n co`n la.i cu?a o^ng ddo^'i vo+'i ca'c nu+o+'c trong vu`ng DDo^ng Nam A'\. Vi` va^.y, nga`y 30/10, Bundy ddu+o+.c le^.nh pha?i ca^'p to^'c gu+?i mo^.t co^ng ddie^.n cho dda.i su+' Lodge dde^? no'i ro~ nhu+~ng u+u tu+ cu?a TT Kennedy ve^` cuc dda?o cha'nh se~ xa?y ra. Bu+'c co^ng ddie^.n go^`m 10 ddie^?m\. Du+o+'i da^y la` nhu+~ng ddie^?m chi'nh: a/ To`a Ba.c ho^'c tin ra(`ng tha'i ddo^. cu?a chu'ng ta ddo^'i vo+'i nho'm dda?o cha'nh va^~n co`n co' ha^.u qu?a quye^'t ddi.nh ddo^'i vo+'i ho.\. To`a Ba.ch O^'c tin ra(`ng lo+`i no'i cu?a chu'ng ta ddo^'i vo+'i nho'm dda?o cha'nh co' the^? khie^'n ho. hoa~n la.i cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh\... Cuo^.c sa('p ha`ng ca'c lu+.c lu+o+.ng ta.i Saigon cho tha^'y hai be^n (qua^n cha'nh phu? va` qua^n dda?o cha'nh) ga^`n nhu+ ddang ca^n ddo^`ng la.n\. Nhu+ va^.y, cuo^.c no^? su'ng se~ ke'o da`i va` qua^n dda?o cha'nh co' the^? se~ bi. dda'nh ba.i. Trong ca? hai tru+o+`ng ho+.p, ha^.u qu?a se~ cu+.c ky` nghie^m tro.ng va` tai ha.i cho quye^`n lo+.i cu?a nu+o+'c My~\. Vi` va^.y, chu'ng ta pha?i co' ddu+o+.c su+. ba?o dda?m ra(`ng tu+o+ng quan lu+.c lu+o+.ng qua^n su+. thu+.c su+. nghie^ng ve^` phi'a qua^n dda?o cha'nh (ddie^?m 2 cu?a co^ng ddie^.n) b/ Trong tru+o+`ng ho+.p o^ng ro+`i kho?i Saigon mo^.t nga`y na`o ddo' truo+'c nga`y dda?o cha'nh, thi` tru+o+'c khi ddi, o^ng ca^`n pha?i tham kha?o y' kie^'n dda^`y ddu? vo+'i tu+o+'ng Harkins va` pho`ng trung u+o+ng ti`nh ba'o dde^? co' nhu+~ng sa('p xe^'p ro~ re^.t ve^` (a) vie^.c ddie^`u ha`nh nhu+~ng hoa.t ddo^.ng tho^ng thu+o+`ng, (b) vie^.c tie^'p xu'c vo+'i nho'm dda?o cha'nh, (c) vie^.c pha?i la`m khi cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh kho+?i su+. (ddie^?m 7) c/ Ne^'u cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh pha?i xa?y ra, va^'n dde^` ba?o ve^. ca'c kie^`u da^n My~ se~ tu+'c kha('c ddu+o+.c dda(.t ra. To`a Ba.c O^'c co' the^? cho kho^ng va^.n tie^?u ddoa`n thu?y qua^n lu.c chie^'n tu+` Okinawa to+'i Saigon trong 24 tie^'ng ddo^`ng ho^`\. To`a Ba.ch O^'c dda~ ra le^.nh cho CINCPAC sa('p xe^'p cuo^.c di chuye^?n cu?a tie^?u ddoa`n thu?y qua^n lu.c chie^'n ba(`ng ddu+o+`ng thu?y dde^'n ha?i pha^.n ga^`n Nam VN (ddie^?m 8) d/ To`a Ba.ch O^'c hie^.n ddang cu+'u xe't nhu+ng tru+o+`ng ho+.p ba^'t ngo+` co' the^? xa?y ra sau khi cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh bu`ng no^~. Ye^u ca^`u o^ng dda.i su+' cho bie^'t ngay nhu+~ng khuye^'n ca'o cu?a o^ng ve^` tha'i ddo^. ma` to`a Ba.ch O^'c pha?i co' sau khi cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh kho+?i su+., dda(.c bie^.t ddo^'i vo+'i nhu+~ng lo+`i ye^u ca^`u dde^? ha`nh ddo^.ng trong tru+o+`ng ho+.p cuc dda?o cha'nh (a) tha`nh co^ng, (b) tha^'t ba.i, (c) kho^ng nga~ ngu~ (ddie^?m 9)\. e/ To`a Ba.ch O^'c nha('c la.i ra(`ng nho'm dda?o cha'nh co' tra'ch nhie^.m pha?o ddu+a ba(`ng co+' chu+'ng minh ra(`ng ho. thu+.c su+. co' trie^?n vo.ng se~ tha`nh co^ng mau le.\. Ne^'u kho^ng, chu'ng ta se~ pha?i can nga(n ho. ddu+`ng dda?o cha'nh, bo+?i le~: mo^.t su+. ti'nh toa'n sai la^`m se~ ddu+a to+'i ha^.u qu?a la`m to^?n thu+o+ng dde^'n tu+ the^' cu?a nu+o+'c My~ ta.i vu`ng DDNA\. DDa^y la` ddie^?m 10 va` cu~ng la` ddie^?m cho't cu?a bu+'c co^ng ddie^.n (Telegram 79079, Bundy to Lodge, Oct 30, 1963, Box 317 national security files, JFK library) Chu'ng ta nha^.n tha^'y ro~ ta^m tra.ng cu?a TT Kennedy. O^ng ra^'t muo^'n la^.t ddo^? o^ng Die^.m, nhu+ng so+. tha^'t ba.i. O^ng dda~ a^?n na'u mi`nh trong ca'i tro` cho+i ngo^n ngu+~ "ddu+`ng khuye^'n khi'ch cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh cu~ng nhu+ ddu+`ng la`m ho?ng cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh" dde^? co' the^? cho^'i to^.i sau na`y\. Nhu+ng o^ng da^'u dda^`u ho+? dduo^i\. Tha^.t va^.y, ta.i ddie^?m 10 cu?a bu+'c ddie^.n ti'n no'i tre^n, to`a Ba.ch O^'c (tu+'c TT Kennedy) dda~ ra le^.nh cho dda.i su+' Lodge pha?i nga(n cha(.n cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh, ne^'u tha^'y cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh kho^ng co' trie^?n vo.ng tha`nh co^ng\. Thi` ra, cha'nh sa'ch "kho^ng ddu+o+.c nga(n cha(.n cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh" ma` TT Kennedy dda~ dde^` ra cho sie^u cu+o+`ng My~ trong vu. la^.t ddo^? o^ng Die^.m na(m 1963, kho^ng a'p du.ng cho mo^.t cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh co' trie^?n vo.ng tha`nh co^ng\. No' chi? a'p du.ng cho mo^.t cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh kho^ng co' trie^?n vo.ng tha`nh co^ng\. DDo' la` dda.o ddu+'c quo^'c gia cu?a nu+o+'c My~, va` ddo' cu~ng la` ca'i tho^ng minh cu?a TT Kennedy trong vu. la^.t ddo^? o^ng Die^.m na(m 1963\. Ngu+o+`i xu+a dda~ da.y: "muo^'n no'i do^'i, thi` pha?i co' mo^.t tri' tho^ng minh tre^n mu+'c bi`nh thu+o+`ng, ne^'u kho^ng, se~ co' ngay` chi'nh mi`nh la.i chu+?i la.i mi`nh"\. Pha?i cha(ng, trong vu. la^.t ddo^? o^ng Die^.m na(m 1963, TT Kennedy cu?a sie^u cu+o+`ng HK va` ca'c co^' va^'n cu?a o^ng dda~ kho^ng co' ddu+o+.c ca'i tri' tho^ng minh tre^n mu+'c bi`nh thu+o+`ng \? 15/ Co^ng ddie^.n nga`y 30/10, dda.i su+' Lodge tra? lo+`i. Ngay sau khi nha^.n ddu+o+.c co^ng ddie^.n nga`y 30/10 cu?a co^' va^'n an ninh to`a Ba.ch O^'c, dda.i su+' Lodge kho^ng ne'n ddu+o+.c su+. kinh nga.c tru+o+'c y' ddi.nh cu?a to`a Ba.ch O^'c muo^'n tri` hoa~n cuc dda?o cha'nh cu?a ca'c tu+o+'ng la~nh VN\. O^ng be`n ca^'p to^'c gu+?i mo^.t co^ng ddie^.n go^`m 13 ddie^?m cho bo^. ngoa.i giao\. Du+o+'i dda^y la` nhu+~ng ddie^?m cha'nh: a/ To^i kho^ng tin ra(`ng chu'ng ta co' ddu? quye^`n lu+.c dde^? tri` hoa~n hoa(.c nga(n cha(.n mo^.t cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh\... To^i co' the^? no'i ra(`ng: chu'ng ta co' ra^'t i't a?nh huo+?ng ddo^'i vo+'i vu. na`y, mo^.t vu. hoa`n toa`n thuo^.c no^.i bo^. VN (ddie^?m 1 cu?a co^ng ddie^.n)\. b/ Tru+` phi cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh tha`nh co^ng cho+'p nhoa'ng, to^i du+. kie^'n ra(`ng khi cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh ba('t dda^`u bu`ng no^?, chi'nh quye^`n Die^.m se~ ye^u ca^`u to^i hoa(.c tu+o+'ng Harkins du`ng a?nh hu+o+?ng dde^? ke^u go.i ca'c tu+o+'ng la~nh ba~i bo? cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh\. To^i tin ra(`ng a?nh hu+o+?ng cu?a chu'ng to^i (tu+'c la` dda.i su+' Lodge va` tu+o+'ng Harkins) cha('n cha('n kho^ng lo+'n ho+n a?nh hu+o+?ng cu?a to^?ng tho^'ng kie^m to^?ng tu+ le^.nh to^'i cao quye^`n lu+.c Hoa Ky`. Ne^'u to^?ng tho^'ng dda~ kho^ng the^? du`ng a?nh hu+o+?ng dde^? ba~i bo? ddu+o+.c cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh, thi` chu'ng to^i cu~ng kho^ng the^? du`ng a?nh hu+o+?ng dde^? ke^u go.i ca'c tu+o+'ng la~nh ba~i bo? cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh\. La`m nhu+ va^.y, chu'ng ta se~ chi? ga^y nguy hie^?m cho sinh ma.ng ngu+o+`i Hoa Ky`\. Chi'nh quye^`n Ngo^ DDi`nh Die^.m co' the^? se~ ye^u ca^`u chu'ng ta gu+?i ma'y bay hoa(.c tru+.c tha(ng dde^'n dde^? di ta?n nhu+~ng nha^n va^.t tro.ng ye^'u trong chi'nh quye^`n\... Nhu+ng cha('c cha('n chu'ng ta se~ kho^ng dde^? cho phi co+ va` phi co^ng cu?a chu'ng ta da^'n tha^n va`o no+i ho`n te^n mu~i dda.n, khi hai phe ddang da`n tra^.n cho^'ng ddo^'i nhau (ddie^?m 10)\. c/ Ca'c tu+o+'ng la~nh co' the^? ca^`n mo^.t so^' tie^`n va`o phu't cho't dde^? mua chuo^.c phe cho^'ng ddo^'i. Ne^'u so^' tie^`n na`y co' the^? ddu+a cho ho. mo^.t ca'ch ki'n dda'o, to^i nghi~ ra(`ng chu'ng ta ne^n cho ho., mie^~n la` chu'ng ta xa'c ti'n ra(`ng cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh ma` ho. du+. ti'nh, dda~ ddu+o+.c to^? chu+'c chu dda'o va` co' trie^?n vo.ng to^'t dde^? tha`nh co^ng\. Ne^'u nha^.n tha^'y ra(`ng cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh kho^ng pha^n tha('ng ba.i, va` cuo^.c no^? su'ng se~ ke'o da`i, cha('c cha('n chu'ng ta se~ pha?i ddu+'ng ra giu'p ddo+~ ca? hai be^n gia?i quye^'t va^'n dde^`, vi` lo+.i i'ch cu?a cuc chie^'n tranh cho^'ng co^.ng tai. mie^`n Nam (ddie^?m 11)\. d/ To^i hoa`n toa`n ddo^`ng y' ra(`ng mo^.t su+. ti'nh toa'n sai la^`m se~ ga^y ra tai ha.i cho tu+ the^' cu?a HK ta.i vu`ng DDo^ng Nam A’. Ne^'u chu'ng ta xa'c ti'n ra(`ng cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh se~ ddi dde^'n tha^'t ba.i, di~ nhie^n chu'ng ta se~ la`m ta^'t ca? nhu+~ng ddie^`u ma` chu'ng ta co' the^? la`m ddu+o+.c, dde^? nga(n cha(.n cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh\. Nguye^n va(n ca^u cho't: "If we are convinced that the coup is going to fail, we would, of course do everything we could to stop it" (ddie^?m 12)\. e/ Tu+o+'ng Harkins dda~ ddo.c co^ng ddie^.n na`y va` kho^ng ddo^`ng y'\. Nguye^n va(n: Gen Harkins has read this and does not concur"\. DDa^y la` ddie^?m 13 va` cu~ng la` ddie^?m cho't\. (Telegram 2063 , Lodge to State, Oct 30, 63\. The Pentagon Papers, pg 227-229) Bu+'c co^ng ddie^.n 2063 no'i tre^n cu?a dda.i su+' Lodge la` mo^.t kie^.t ta'c cu?a so+ ho+?, ma^u thua^~n ngu xua^?n va` ba^'t lu+o+ng\. DDoa.n tre^n no'i ra(`ng chi'nh quye^`n My~ kho^ng ddu? quye^`n lu+.c dde^? nga(n cha(.n cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh, ddoa.n du+o+'i la.i no'i ra(`ng ne^'u tha^'y cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh se~ ddi dde^'n tha^'t ba.i thi` chu'ng ta (Hoa Ky`) se~ la`m ta^'t ca? nhu+~ng ddie^`u co' the^? la`m ddu+o+.c dde^? nga(n cha(.n cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh\. DDoa.n tre^n no'i ra(`ng dda^y la` mo^.t va^'n dde^` hoa`n toa`n thuo^.c no^.i bo^. VN, ddoa.n du+o+'i la.i no'i ra(`ng chu'ng ta ne^n cho nho'm dda?o cha'nh mo^.t so^' tie^`n dde^? ho. mua chuo^.c phe cho^'ng ddo^'i\. Tua^n Tu+? cu?a nu+o+'c Ta`u, Talleyrand cu?a nu+o+'c Pha'p va` Metternich cu?a nu+o+'c A'o, hie^.n ddang ngu? du+o+'i dda'y mo^`, ne^'u ho. ddu+o+.c ddo.c bu+'c co^ng ddie^.n cu?a nha` ngoa.i giao Lodge, cha('c cha('n ho. se~ ddo^.i mo^` ma` cho^~i da^.y, va` ke^u tro+`i cho ca'i cha^'t xa'm cu?a chi'nh gio+'i My~\. Ba^'t lu+o+ng ngu xua^?n va` ma^u thua^~n\. Co' le~ tu+o+'ng Harkins cu~ng dda~ nhi`n tha^'y ca'i ba^'t lu+o+ng va` ma^u thua^~n cu?a dda.i su+' Lodge, vi` va^.y o^ng dda~ kho^ng ddo^`ng y' va` ddo`i dda.i su+' Lodge pha?i ghi va`o co^ng ddie^.n ra(`ng o^ng kho^ng ddo^`ng y'\. Du` sao, nhu+~ng so+ ho+?, ma^u thua^~n ngu xua^?n va` ba^'t lu+o+ng cu?a bu+'c co^ng ddie^.n cu~ng giu'p cho li.ch su+? ghi la.i mo^.t su+. tha^.t nga`n ddo+`i, cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh 1963 dda~ do chi'nh quye^`n Kennedy chu? tru+o+ng, chu? mu+u, sa('p xe^'p va` thu'c dda?y\. Nho'm tu+o+'ng la~nh VN la` nhu+~ng tay sai ba?n xu+' ..! 16/ Co^ng ddie^.n nga`y 30/10, George Bundy gu+?i dda.i su+' Lodge Bu+'c co^ng ddie^.n nga`y 30/10 (so^' 2063) cu?a dda.i su+' Lodge kho^ng ddu+o+.c su+. cha^'p thua^.n cu?a tu+o+'ng Harkins, tu+ le^.nh MAGV ta.i Saigon\. To`a Ba.ch O^'c dda~ nhi`n tha^'y su+. xi'ch mi'ch va` ba^'t ddo^`ng quan ddie^?m giu+~a dda.i su+' Lodge va` tu+o+'ng Harkins trong vu. la^.t ddo^? o^ng Die^.m\. Va` to`a Ba.ch O^'c lo nga.i\. Chie^`u 30/10, George Bundy la.i ca^'p to^'c gu+?i mo^.t co^ng ddie^.n 6 ddie^?m cho dda.i su+' Lodge. Du+o+'i dda^y la` nhu+~ng ddie^?m chi'nh: a/ To`a Ba.ch O^'c kho^ng cha^'p nha^.n lua^.n ddie^.u cu?a o^ng dda.i su+' cho ra(`ng "chu'ng ta kho^ng ddu? quye^`n lu+.c dde^? tri` hoa~n hoa(.c nga(n cha(.n mo^.t cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh ta.i VN" nhu+ la` ca(n ba?n chu? dda.o cho cha'nh sa'ch ddo^'i ngoa.i cu?a HK\. Trong co^ng ddie^.n cu?a o^ng dda.i su+', ddie^?m 12, o^ng dda.i su+' cu~ng no'i ra(`ng ne^'u o^ng xa'c ti'n ra(`ng cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh se~ ddi dde^'n tha^'t ba.i, thi` o^ng se~ la`m ta^'t ca? nhu+~ng ddie^`u co' the^? la`m ddu+o+.c dde^? nga(n cha(.n no’. Cu~ng tre^n ca(n ba?n ddo', to`a Ba.ch O^'c tin ra(`ng o^ng dda.i su+' se~ ha`nh ddo^.ng dde^? thuye^'t phu.c ca'c tu+o+'ng la~nh ngu+ng la.i hoa(.c hoa~n la.i ba^'t cu+' mo^.t cuo^.c ddo^.ng binh na`o ma` o^ng dda.i su+' nghi~ ra(`ng kho^ng co' trie^?n vo.ng tha`nh co^ng (ddie^?m 2 cu?a co^ng ddie^.n)\. b/ Vi` va^.y, ne^'u o^ng dda.i su+' pha?i ke^'t lua^.n ra(`ng cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh kho^ng thu+.c su+. co' trie^?n vo.ng tha`nh co^ng, thi` o^ng pha?i cho ca'c tu+o+'ng la~nh bie^'t mo^'i hoa`i nghi cu?a o^ng\. No'i la`m sao dde^? i't nha^'t tri` hoa~n cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh la.i cho to+'i khi co' ddu+o+.c co+ ho^.i to^'t ho+n\. Khi no'i ddie^`u ddo' vo+'i ca'c tu+o+'ng la~nh, o^ng dda.i su+' ne^n xu+? du.ng su+'c na(.ng cu?a lo+`i khuye^n nhu? to^'t nha^'t cu?a HK (nguye^n va(n: The weight of US best advice) va` minh thi. ba'c bo? mo.i a'm chi? ra(`ng chu'ng ta cho^'ng la.i nhu+~ng no^~ lu+.c cu?a ca'c tu+o+'ng la~nh vi` chu'ng ta u+a thi'ch che^' ddo^. hie^.n ta.i ho+n la` u+a thi'ch ho. (ddie^?m 3)\. e/ Sau dda^y la` chi? thi. cu?a to`a Ba.ch O^'c lie^n quan dde^'n tha'i ddo^. cu?a Hoa Ky`(HK) trong tru+o+`ng ho+.p cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh xa?y ra: 1/ Ca'c vie^n chu+'c HK se~ kho^ng dda'p u+'ng nhu+~ng lo+`i ke^u go.i giu'p ddo+~ cu?a ca? hai be^n\. Phi co+ HK va` nhu+~ng kha? na(ng kha'c cu?a HK se~ kho^ng ddu+o+.c ddu+a dde^'n da^'n tha^n va`o no+i ho`n te^n mu~i dda.n, dde^? u?ng ho^. ba^'t cu+' be^n na`o ne^'u kho^ng ddu+o+.c phe'p cu?a Hoa Thi.nh DDo^'n\. 2/ Trong tru+o+`ng ho+.p cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh ba^'t pha^n tha('ng ba.i, ca'c vie^n chu+'c HK co' the^? tu`y nghi la`m nhu+~ng ha`nh vi thi'ch ho+.p vo+'i nguye^.n vo.ng cu?a ca? hai be^n, ty? nhu+ di ta?n ca'c nha^n va^.t tro.ng ye^'u hoa(.c chuye^?n va^.n tin tu+'c\. Va` khi ha`nh ddo^.ng nhu+ va^.y, ca'c vie^n chu+'c HK pha?i co^' tra'nh dde^? kho?i bi. hie^?u la^`m la` la`m a'p lu+.c ddo^'i vo+'i ba^'t cu+' be^n na`o. 3/ Trong tru+o+`ng ho+.p cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh la^m va`o ti`nh tra.nh se~ tha^t ba.i, hoa(.c thu+.c su+. tha^'t ba.i, ca'c vie^n chu+'c HK co' the^? tu`y nghi mo+? cu+?a nu+o+ng na'u cho nhu+~ng ke? minh thi. hoa(.c ma(.c nhie^n ca^`n su+. nu+o+ng na'u. 4/ Nhu+ng mo^.t khi cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh dda~ ba('t dda^`u, thi` vi` quye^`n lo+.i cu?a HK, cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh a^'y pha?i tha`nh co^ng (The Pentagon Papers, pg 231) Chu'ng ta tha^'y ro~: trong co^ng ddie^.n no'i tre^n, to`a Ba.c h O^'c dda~ minh thi. ba'c bo? quan ddie^?m cu?a dda.i su+' Lodge cho ra(`ng HK kho^ng ddu? quye^`n lu+.c dde^? nga(n cha(.n mo^.t cuo^.c da?o cha'nh ta.i VN\. Cha(?ng nhu+~ng va^.y, to`a Ba.ch O^'c co`n kha(?ng ddi.nh ra(`ng chi'nh quye^`n HK co' thu+`a quye^`n lu+.c va` co' bo^?n pha^.n pha?i nga(n cha(.n cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh, ne^'u tha^'y cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh kho^ng co' trie^?n vo.ng tha`nh co^ng\. To`a Ba.c O^'c minh thi. nha('c la.i me^.nh le^.h cu?a TT Kennedy: "mo^.t khi cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh dda~ ba('t dda^`u, cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh a^'y pha?i tha`nh co^ng, vi` ddo' la` quye^`n lo+.i cu?a Hoa Ky`." Chu'ng ta cu~ng tha^'y ro~: to`a Ba.ch O^'c chi? du+. lie^.u can thie^.p trong tru+o+`ng ho+.p cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh ba^'t pha^n tha('ng ba.i, va` tru+o+`ng ho+.p qua^n dda?o cha'nh bi. dda'nh ba.i. Can thie^.p dde^? giu'p cho ca'c tu+o+'ng dda?o cha'nh co' cho^~ nu+o+ng na'u va` thoa't hie^?m\. To`a Ba.ch O^'c kho^ng du+. lie^.u can thie^.p trong tru+o+`ng ho+.p o^ng Die^.m bi. dda'nh ba.i. So^' pha^.n o^ng Die^.m kho^ng ddu+o+.c to`a Ba.ch O^'c quan ta^m dde^'n\. Ta^'t ca? nhu+~ng ta`i lie^.u tre^n dda^y dda~ tro+? tha`nh chi'nh su+? cu?a Hoa Ky`, va` ddu+o+.c lu+u tru+~ trong "Ho^` So+ An Ninh Quo^'c Gia" ta.i thu+ vie^.n JFK\. DDo' la` nhu+~ng ba(`ng co+' tre^n gia^'y tra('ng mu+.c dden chu+'ng minh mo^.t su+. tha^.t li.ch su+?. Su+. tha^.t li.ch su+? ddo', la`: cuo^.c la^.t ddo^? chi'nh quye^`n Ngo^ DDi`nh Die^.m na(m 1963 dda~ do chi'nh quye^`n Kennedy chu? tru+o+ng, chu? mu+u, chu? xu+o+'ng, chu? ddo^.ng, chu? lu+.c, khuye^'n khi'ch va` thu'c dda^?y, ca'c tu+o+'ng la~nh VN chi? la` nhu+~ng tay sai ba?n xu+' !! Li.ch su+? dda~ vie^'t: nho+` su+. ma^~n ca'n va` tho^ng minh cu?a ca'c tu+o+'ng la~nh VN, cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh na(m 1963 dda~ hoa`n tha`nh my~ ma~n\. Nhu+~ng ta`i lie^.u no'i tre^n cu~ng la` nhu+~ng ba(`ng co+' tre^n gia^'y tra('ng mu+.c dden chu+'ng minh su+. ba^'t lu+o+ng, ngu xua^?n va` luo^.m thuo^.m cu?a chi'nh quye^`n Hoa Ky` trong vu. la^.t ddo^? o^ng Die^.m\. Tu+` to^?ng tho^'ng Kennedy, dde^'n ca'c co^' va^'n to`a Ba.ch O^'c, dde^'n dda.i su+' Cabot Lodge. Mo^.t co^ng ddie^.n (nga`y 24/8/63) cu?a to`a Ba.ch O^'c gu+?i cho vi. dda.i su+' cu?a mi`nh ta.i nu+o+'c ngoa`i, lie^n quan dde^'n mo^.t va^'n dde^` tro.ng dda.i cu?a quo^'c gia HK, the^' ma` ca'c vie^n chu+'c cao ca^'p co' tra'ch nhie^.m trong chi'nh quye^`n kho^ng ddu+o+.c tho^ng ba'o, tham kha?o. Cha(?ng nhu+~ng va^.y, co`n bi. lu+`a bi.p\. Ke^? ca? TT Kennedy cu~ng bi. lu+`a bi.p\. Trong ca'c co^ng ddie^.n cu?a to`a Ba.ch O^'c, cu?a chi'nh TT Kennedy va` cu?a bo^. ngoa.i giao go+?i ddi, cu~ng nhu+ trong ca'c co^ng ddie^.n cu?a dda.i su+' Cabot Lodge gu+?i ve^`, thi` co^ng ddie^.n tru+o+'c chu+?i co^ng ddie^.n sau, hoa(.c co^ng ddie^.n sau chu+?i co^ng ddie^.n tru+o+'c\. Trong cu`ng mo^.t co^ng ddie^.n, thi` ddoa.n tru+o+'c chu+?i ddoa.n sau, ddoa.n sau chu+?i ddoa.n tru+o+'c\. Gia'o su+ Andre' Tunc trong quye^?n Les Etats Unis, co' no'i dde^'n "quye^`n lu+.c na(`m trong tay nhu+~ng ke? thie^'u lu+o+ng ta^m"\. Trong vu. chi'nh quye^`n Kennedy la^.t ddo^? o^ng Die^.m, chu'ng ta pha?i the^m hai chu+~ ngu xua^?n va`o cuo^'i ca^u va` no'i: "quye^`n lu+.c na(`m trong tay nhu+~ng ke? thie^'u lu+o+ng ta^m va` ngu xua^?n"\. [Nguye^~n Va(n Chu+'c, VIE^.T NAM CHI'NH SU+?, trang 61-85)\. .......Che^' ddo^. Ngo^ DDi`nh Die^.m la` mo^.t che^' ddo^. ddo^.c ddoa'n (autoritaire) nhu+ ha^`u he^'t ca'c quo^'c gia pha?i ddu+o+ng dda^`u vo+'i hie^?m ho.a co^.ng sa?n\. DDie^`u ddo' kho^ng ai cho^'i ca~i\. Ne^n nho+': DDa`i Loan dda~ a'p du.ng che^' ddo^. thie^'t qua^n lua^.t ga^`n 35 na(m, va` chi? ba~i bo? che^' ddo^. a^'y mo+'i dda^y, na(m 1986\. Cu~ng kho^ng ai cho^'i ca~i ra(`ng: DDe^. nha^'t co^.ng ho`a dda~ co' nhu+~ng la.m du.ng lvng ha`nh, nho+'p nhu'a. Va` ca? to^.i a'c nu+~a\. Nhu+ng, nhu+~ng la.m du.ng, lo^.ng ha`nh nho+'p nhu'a, t o^.i a'c a^'y kho^ng ba('t nguo^`n tu+` nhu+~ng quy ddi.nh hoa(.c thie^'u so't cu?a hie^'n pha'p ma` ba('t nguo^`n tu+` su+. kho^ng to^n tro.ng hie^'n pha'p va` lua^.t pha'p quo^'c gia bo+?i chi'nh nhu+~ng ke? ca^`m quye^`n\. Vi` va^.y, chu'ng ta kho^ng ne^n du+.a va`o hie^'n pha'p mo^.t nu+o+'c dde^? chi? tri'ch hoa(.c nguye^`n ru?a mo^.t che^' ddo^.\. Nhu+ng o^ng DDo^~ Ma^.u va` nhu+~ng ke? dde^'n sau (tu+'c la` nhu+~ng ke? xuye^n ta.c, nhu+~ng ke? "hie^'p da^m" li.ch su+? hoa(.c nhu+~ng ke? bo^i ba^?n vo^ ca(n co+' vo+'i lo`ng dda^`y ha^.n thu`, a'c ta^m, vo^ lua^n va` tha`nh kie^'n ddo^'i vo+'i TT Ngo^ DDi`nh Die^.m, ddo^'i vo+'i ne^`n dde^. nha^'t co^.ng ho`a cu?a TT Die^.m (lo+`i go'p y' the^m cu?a Aladin) la`m vie^.c ddo'\. Va`: khi la`m co^ng vie^.c ddo' ho. dda~ to? ra thie^'u kha? na(ng\. (Vie^.t Nam Chi'nh Su+?, NVC, trang 48-49)\. ......I POST, YOU DECIDE !