h. In May, the United States responded by mounting "a new air war against Communist forces" (The new air war, 1972, p. 15). In addition to conducting air strikes into North Vietnamese territory, the U.S. placed mines in enemy harbors and other locations. One of the most effective of the U.S. operations during the summer of 1972 was Linebacker I, an offensive bombing campaign which "demonstrated that the U.S. was ready to employ its airpower decisively" and that "the consequence of this employment would be the paralysis of North Vietnam's ability to feed and protect its citizens" (Momyer, 1978, p. 237). The air raids had the desired result, and by mid-July negotiations between the U.S. and North Vietnam were back in session. However, by December of 1972, the talks were again at an impasse, and the Communists were "reopening a number of old issues that the U.S. negotiators thought were already settled" (Sharp, 1978, p. 251). Nixon's response to this development was to launch a massive air assault which is now known as Lineback
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