The War: Saying It Right

Are the U.S. and its allies still trying to "win the hearts and minds of the people" in South Viet Nam? Not any more, at least in those terms. According to a new directive entitled "Let's Say It Right," the allied effort is intended to "develop community spirit." Prepared by the U.S. Command in Viet Nam for military press officers, the directive bans or substantially alters 22 terms that once were used frequently in briefings for correspondents in Saigon. Instead of "search and destroy," U.S. briefing officers should now say "search and clear." U.S. troop withdrawals are to be described as "U.S. redeployment" or "replacement by ARVN" (Army of the Republic of South Viet Nam). A Viet Cong tax collector should be called a V.C. extortionist. V.C. defectors are to be called ralliers.

The term "body count" is banned. Hamburger Hill is to be mentioned only by its metric name: Hill 937. Press officers also are sternly enjoined from referring to "the 5 o'clock follies," the name given by newsmen to the frequently fanciful official recitation of the day's events. From now on, the briefings will simply be called briefings.