Political & Economical issues Vietnamization has political and
economic dimensions in addition to military ones. They will
become increasingly important as the war winds down. Political
development in any newly independent country is a challenging
task. When that country is under fire from a determined enemy,
the difficulties are multiplied. The government sees its first
priority in granting security. Military considerations are
likely to Dominate the time of officials, the content of
programs and the freedom of political life. Nevertheless,
political development in a paramilitary conflict is a crucial
ingredient of a government's effort. It is increasingly import
ant in Vietnam as the military struggle subsides. Ultimately,
the fate of Vietnam will turn on political factors-the
motivation of the people during the conflict; the cohesion of
non-Communist political forces in the possible electoral
competition with the Communists; the solidity of the political
institutions during and after the war. There has bee