ABSTRACT
If any two words characterize the military doctrine of Presidents Kennedy and Johnson and Secretary of Defence McNamara – and two words is about all a doctrine gets these days to describe itself – the leading contender is ‘flexible response’. As early as his first defence-budget message in the spring of 1961, President Kennedy spoke of making military force continuously responsive to policy direction, of proportioning any military response to its provocation, and of maintaining effective communications, command, and control throughout any emergency. ‘Controlled response’ is a favourite synonym; and Secretary McNamara is known for his interest in ‘multiple options’, in having a choice of response for a variety of contingencies and not having to rely on a unique all-or-none riposte.
