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This event has been cancelled. 

You are cordially invited to a lecture on the topic of 
Vietnam Reconsidered: Correcting Conventional Wisdom About the War 
with 
Colonel Richard Coffman, US Marine Corps Reserve Retired 
Former Career Operations Officer and Analyst with the Central Intelligence Agency 

Wednesday, May 29th 
4:00 – 5:30 PM 

The Institute of World Politics 
1521 16th Street NW 
Washington, D.C. 
Parking
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vietnamwarcoffman

About the Lecture: New archival information has enabled more accurate interpretations of the Vietnam War and exposed errors in conventional wisdom. The War’s opponents used false assumptions and inaccurate information in opposing the War and ascending to leadership in the nation’s affairs and in political and policy-making positions. It is thus important to correct the historical record of the Vietnam War. A historically accurate record is also critical in guiding contemporaneous military and political leaders in making strategic and military decisions and in formulating future policy. Colonel Coffman will examine the following areas where conventional wisdom falls short the Vietnam War: 

  • The origins of the Vietnam War 

  • The ideology and politics of the enemy 

  • The ways in which each side fought the war 

  • Whether the Vietnam War could have been won in any meaningful way 

About the Speaker: Colonel Richard Coffman served 31 years as an Analyst and Operations Officer with the Central Intelligence Agency retiring in the Senior Intelligence Service.  He served concurrently in the Marine Corps Reserves for 30 years after active duty commissioned service in Vietnam.  He has been an executive director of a graduate school in intelligence and security located in Washington, D.C., and he chairs a discussion group of former national security leaders and professionals in Langley, VA. Additionally, Colonel Coffman has advised U.S. federal agencies on terrorism and 9/11 operations, formed and managed two private sector companies in high tech applications and maritime security and been a media commentator and analyst on intelligence, counterterrorism, and security matters. 


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