Armed Forces: The Men in the Green Berets

The U.S. last week repeated its pledges to stand by its friends in Southeast Asia. At his press conference, President Kennedy denied a rumor that the U.S. is considering "disengagement" from Laos, said that the U.S. is continuing to work for "a neutral and independent Laos"—which, although it is almost a contradiction in terms, is about the best the West can hope for. Even while inferentially criticizing it, Kennedy made clear that the U.S. is still solidly backing the government of South Viet Nam's President Diem. Said he: "We're prepared to...