Nation: The Plight of The Doves

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Only four months ago, the antiwar, antimilitary sentiment based in the Senate seemed a formidable challenge to the Administration. Much of the nation was still stunned or suspicious about the U.S.-South Vietnamese invasion of Communist sanctuaries in Cambodia. In that climate, the doves managed to pass the Cooper-Church amendment, banning the use of funds to support similar U.S. operations in Cambodia in the future. But a gentlemanly pro-Administration filibuster delayed passage until U.S. forces had pulled out, making the issue seem academic. Since then, the doves have been beaten on every significant amendment they have offered. On several attempts to limit Administration plans to expand the anti-ballistic missile program, the most they could muster was 47 votes. All of their efforts to cut the Pentagon budget on the floor of the Senate have proved futile. At the same time, opinion polls show that public support of the President's policies remains strong. Temporarily, at least, the doves are dispirited and in flight.

New Optimism. A few days before Vice President Agnew's visit to Phnom-Penh, the U.S. announced an estimated $40 million program of military aid to Premier Lon Nol's government. Described by the State Department as "modest but meaningful," the program actually quadruples the present amount of U.S. aid. Secretary of Defense Melvin Laird, confirming what had long been accomplished fact, defined the use of American airpower in Cambodia well beyond its original limitation of hitting only at supply lines. The U.S. air mission there, he said, was "to destroy supplies and buildups, buildups of personnel as well as supplies."

Based on its latest intelligence reports, the Pentagon is increasingly convinced that the Cambodian invasion is proving to be a smashing success as a limited military venture. TIME Pentagon Correspondent John Mulliken finds a new sense of general optimism among top military leaders, who claim impressive achievements for the operation. It amounted to "the worst setback the Communists have had in 20 years of war in Indochina," contends one Pentagon officer.

After studying both U.S. estimates and captured Communist documents, the Pentagon now puts the North Vietnamese casualties at a minimum of 10,000 dead, compared with 362 U.S. and 818 South Vietnamese dead. If accurate, these figures mean that nearly a fourth of all enemy troops in Cambodia at the time of the invasion were killed. However, they may only demonstrate again that body counting is a highly unreliable exercise in this war. Since the invasion, the Communists have failed to mount any significant attacks in South Viet Nam. U.S. military analysts consider them incapable of doing so now along the Cambodian-South Vietnamese border. They could mount offensives from Laos or North Viet Nam, in the north, but have not done so.