The War: The Impotence of Power

The seizure of the U.S.S. Pueblo in international waters came as an abrupt object lesson to Americans that the world's greatest power can be roundly and resoundingly put down by the most minuscule of foes. The Bay of Pigs debacle in 1961 was a portent, but it was a local and limited embarrassment that was soon forgotten. North Viet Nam has also proved the efficacy of persistent, small-scale Communist effort. Yet no other Communist state, big or small, has succeeded so well in provoking and frustrating the U.S. as North Korea did last week by hijacking Pueblo.

From that quick,...