Let's make it clear for those who can find no coherent thought in Mr. Benson's idea. Benson is suggesting that the United States conventionally invade North Vietnam and put themselves in a place where China would officially join the war with combat troops. To bolster the US troops, Benson recommends bringing in the Republic of China (Taiwan) into the fray with them to fight the Sino-Vietnamese alliance.

This idea is foolish and imaginary at best. In fact, it was downright dangerous. Now, Mr. Benson is not the only man who has suggested the idea of invading North Vietnam and "getting it over with", but anyone who makes a comment like this has no idea of how the Vietnam War was carried out. It was not a conventional war, it was an unconventional war and would not be won by a conventional invasion. An invasion suggested by Benson would not only widen the war but actually put the United States at very dangerous risk with a nuclear power (China). The US civilian and military leadership had looked at this idea but discounted it due to the fact that the Korean War in which the Chinese actually intervened, was still in fresh memory and there was a belief that repeating a decision like that might very well trigger a Third World War.

Ironically, Benson's idea to end the war might very well have made the war so much longer than it actually ended up being and wreak much more death.