Orrin begins the interview discussing how he became a CIA agent in Vietnam and the techniques from the use of psychological profiling to the establishment of a databank to gather intelligence on enemy operations. In particular, Orrin highlights the failure of the Americans to understand the Vietnamese culture in general and specifically how to use that information to destabilize enemy operations. He also pointedly describes how his “on the ground intelligence” was continually misinterpreted by the higher-ranking CIA officers and politicians who “ran” the war. In addition to discussing his specific work in Vietnam, Orrin also discusses the war in general, from his feelings about GIs and the poor decision to deploy American soldiers in Vietnam to the impact of the 1973 treaty that proved to be the ultimate failure in a long list of failures in Vietnam.
DeForest, Orrin United States. Central Intelligence Agency Vietnam War, 1961-1975 - Underground movements Vietnam War, 1961-1975 - Personal narratives, American Counterinsurgency - Vietnam
Time Period
Vietnam War, 1961-1975 Twentieth century
Place
Vietnam Vietnam War Southeast Asia United States
Source
Excerpt of show with Martinson interviewing Orrin DeForest before commercial break and Andrew Kaplan after the break
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