George McT. Kahin: A tribute

Abstract

George Mc T. Kahin, one of the foremost academic critics of the Vietnam War, died 29 January 2000, at the age of 82. He had a seminal influence on the debate over U.S. covert and military intervention in Southeast Asia, particularly with regard to the Vietnam War. He voiced his opposition to the Vietnam War earlier than any other major academic figure, starting in the early 1960s. Virtually all the arguments he made at the time have since been accepted by both academics and journalists, including many who once supported or quasi-supported the U.S. position. Even former government figures have acknowledged the foresight he had at the time. His basic arguments were as follows: