Word: troop
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...unpleasant atmosphere of the cold war, such frank talk perhaps helped to clarify the new political realities in Europe. Certainly the edgy West Germans were measurably relieved by Rusk's reassurances. The situation in Central Europe cooled enough for the Austrians, who had been troubled by the Soviet troop build-up in neighboring Czechoslovakia, to go ahead with plans to demobilize 11,000 Austrian army draftees whose training period had been extended as a result of the Soviet-made crisis...
Russia would still like to hold the summit meeting, possibly next spring. The price may eventually be concessions in Czechoslovakia-including substantial troop withdrawals. Unless the Kremlin leaders are willing to pay that price, they may not find the Communist delegations in any better mood at the next preliminary meeting...
Still, talk of a troop cutback worried Republican strategists. Did Humphrey know something? Was Johnson about to announce a move toward de-escalation that would enhance his Vice President's chances? To minimize the impact of any such move, Nixon immediately countered that Humphrey is so anxious for a settlement of the war that he would endanger the U.S. negotiating position by promising cutbacks of U.S. combat forces. The next day, Wisconsin's Melvin Laird, a knowledgeable member of the House subcommittee on defense, accused Humphrey of "loose talk-dangerous, harmful talk -confusing and, in my view, irresponsible...
Laird's motive was to give the impression that any troop reduction would be "in the normal course of events" and would therefore reflect no credit on the Democrats. The Administration quickly denied that any such reduction was envisioned. The U.S., said Defense Secretary Clark Clifford, is still building up to its authorized level of 549,500, and "we intend to continue...
...politically inspired exchange left in doubt the question of the U.S. troop level and of the course of the war it self. Clifford issued his denial of Laird's statement only at the President's orders. Pentagon officers naturally supported the Defense Secretary's statements. Yet other Administration sources suspect that both Laird and Humphrey may well be correct in their predictions that U.S. combat forces will be reduced...