1972 in the Vietnam War of this agreement, it is my intention to take swift and severe retaliatory action." Henry Kissinger returned to Paris to meet with North Vietnamese negotiator Le Duc Tho. Tho accused Kissinger of deception. Kissinger introduced President Thieu's objections to the draft peace agreement. Both North Vietnam and South Vietnam were intransigent, the North Vietnamese demanding the agreement be signed as agreed with the United States, South Vietnam demanding changes. Anticipating that the peace agreement would require release of all political prisoners, the government of South Vietnam began charging people detained for political reasons with petty crimes, thus ensuring their continued
1972 in the Vietnam War mines off the coast of North Vietnam to prevent ship travel to and from the country. Operation Linebacker II began. Better known as the "Christmas bombings", 129 B-52s and smaller tactical aircraft struck at targets in North Vietnam, including around the city of Hanoi. North Vietnam shot down three B-52s. Military adviser Alexander Haig met with President Thieu in Saigon to deliver a letter from President Nixon. Nixon said it was his "irrevocable intention" to achieve a peace agreement with North Vietnam, preferably with the cooperation of South Vietnam, "but, if necessary, alone." He pledged continue military support to South