Spartans in Darkness: American SIGINT and the Indochina War, 1945-1975. Series 6, Volume 7 (REDACTED)

Americas war in Vietnam continues as a topic of highest interest among scholars and the general public alike- and as a topic of the highest controversy. The Vietnam War has been the subject of countless memoirs, histories, and adventure tales, yet a critical aspect of the war has been lacking in what has been written so far. Even monographs on the role of intelligence in the war do not threat the signals intelligence SIGINT and information systems security INFOSEC aspects of the war, or do so only in the most superficial ways. This meticulously researched and richly detailed history of cryptology in the Vietnam War fills this void. It provides a grand perspective of these most secret aspects of the war, and answers many of the questions historians ask about it. Those who work SIGINT tend to view it mechanistically, It is often believed to be cut and dried, that is provides and unchallenged source of information- what the other side is saying to itself, and therefore must be correct. However, the interpretation of SIGINT and its political or policy implications often generate considerable discussion and controversy. This was certainly the case with SIGINT in the Vietnam War. This study looks carefully at these controversies- and itself has several areas likely to be controversial in the implications and interpretation. This is a stimulating study, highly recommended for all who are interested in U.S. policy in the last half of the twentieth century, the conduct of the war itself, and the role of cryptology specifically.