Free+Fire+Zone

Free-Fire Zones (1964)

The definition of a Free-Fire Zones is a territory considered to be under enemy control, where any person, vehicle, or structure is considered a legitimate military target. The areas were declared Free-Fire Zones if they were believed to be controlled by Communists or Viet Cong force. The area was also suppose to be free of friendly troops but it was not uncommon for civilians to be living in a Free-Fire Zone, this specifically drew a lot of controversy from the public. Free-Fire Zones were originally established in the early 1960's to authorize firepower around villages in the Strategic Hamlet Program from Operation Sunrise. In 1964 the free-fire zones were expanded and became an important part of the strategy to direct massive firepower against the National Liberation Front (NFL). Free-Fire Zones were renamed to Specific Strike Zones for public relations reasons just like Operation Masher. However, the changing of the name did not make everything okay with anti-war America. Gen. Bruce Palmer spoke out against the Free-Fire Zones, saying they encouraged an excessive reliance on military force that showed a weakness in the U.S. intelligence and communications.

Specific Strike Zone were not a personal favorite of the American public. The changing of its name didn't do much to dampen the anger against it either.

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Citations

Kutler, Stanley I. "Free-Fire Zones." //Encyclopedia of the Vietnam War// . New York, New York: Charles Scribner, 1996. Print.

 Isserman, Maurice. __Vietnam War__ . Updated ed. America at War. New York: Facts On File-Infobase Publishing, 2003. __Infobase eBooks__ . Infobase Publishing.. http://ebooks.infobasepublishing.com/ View.aspx?ISBN=9781438100159&InstID=831 (accessed November 18, 2010).