Komer, Robert W. (11081321): Difference between revisions
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|death_date=9 April 2000 | |death_date=9 April 2000 | ||
|death_year=2000 | |death_year=2000 | ||
|birth_place=Chicago, Illinois | |birth_place=Chicago, Illinois | ||
|death_place=Arlington, Virginia | |death_place=Arlington, Virginia | ||
|alias=Robert William Komer | |alias=Robert William Komer | ||
|battles=World War II | |battles=World War II | ||
|photo=Wikipedia_Lyndon_Johnson_and_Robert_Komer.jpg | |photo=Wikipedia_Lyndon_Johnson_and_Robert_Komer.jpg | ||
|known_for=Under Secretary of Defense for Policy | |known_for=Under Secretary of Defense for Policy | ||
|nativity=United States | |||
}} | }} | ||
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== Biography == | == Biography == | ||
Robert William "Blowtorch Bob" Komer (February 23, 1922 – April 9, 2000) was an American national security adviser known for managing Civil Operations and Revolutionary Development Support during the Vietnam War. | Robert William "Blowtorch Bob" Komer (February 23, 1922 – April 9, 2000) was an American national security adviser known for managing Civil Operations and Revolutionary Development Support during the Vietnam War. | ||
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While with the NSC, Komer and others negotiated with Israeli prime minister Levi Eshkol a memorandum of understanding (MOU) about Israeli nuclear capabilities. The March 10, 1965, MOU, variously interpreted since, said 'Israel would not be the first country to "introduce" nuclear weapons to the Middle East'. | While with the NSC, Komer and others negotiated with Israeli prime minister Levi Eshkol a memorandum of understanding (MOU) about Israeli nuclear capabilities. The March 10, 1965, MOU, variously interpreted since, said 'Israel would not be the first country to "introduce" nuclear weapons to the Middle East'. | ||
Komer arrived in South Vietnam in May 1967 as the first head of the newly created Civil Operations and Revolutionary Development Support program, the most controversial aspect of which was the Phoenix program, which William Colby later testified resulted in 20,587 deaths. CORDS was an agency with a staff of both civilians and military personnel, but it fell under the authority of the Military Assistance Command, Vietnam. President Lyndon Johnson had sent Komer to South Vietnam to provide impetus to the nation-building efforts of the new organization. Komer was known for his brusque management style, which had endeared him to the president and earned him the nickname "Blowtorch Bob" from U.S. | Komer arrived in South Vietnam in May 1967 as the first head of the newly created Civil Operations and Revolutionary Development Support program, the most controversial aspect of which was the Phoenix program, which William Colby later testified resulted in 20,587 deaths. CORDS was an agency with a staff of both civilians and military personnel, but it fell under the authority of the Military Assistance Command, Vietnam. President Lyndon Johnson had sent Komer to South Vietnam to provide impetus to the nation-building efforts of the new organization. Komer was known for his brusque management style, which had endeared him to the president and earned him the nickname "Blowtorch Bob" from U.S. Ambassador Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. As head of CORDS, he commanded all pacification personnel in South Vietnam. | ||
However, the problems CORDS faced were intractable and the results of Komer's work ambiguous. In a revealing discussion with military historians, Komer said "everybody and nobody" was responsible for counter-insurgency against the communist Vietcong guerrillas. He said it "fell between stools which accounted for the prolonged failure to push things on a large scale even though many correctly analyzed the need". Komer focused his work on the expansion of village militias loyal to the South Vietnamese government, believing they could provide local security against guerrillas. | However, the problems CORDS faced were intractable and the results of Komer's work ambiguous. In a revealing discussion with military historians, Komer said "everybody and nobody" was responsible for counter-insurgency against the communist Vietcong guerrillas. He said it "fell between stools which accounted for the prolonged failure to push things on a large scale even though many correctly analyzed the need". Komer focused his work on the expansion of village militias loyal to the South Vietnamese government, believing they could provide local security against guerrillas. | ||
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Robert Komer's first marriage to Jane Komer ended in divorce. He later married Geraldine, who died in 1996. | Robert Komer's first marriage to Jane Komer ended in divorce. He later married Geraldine, who died in 1996. | ||
== Research notes == | == Research notes == | ||