Washington announces Linebacker II raids will continue
Washington announces that the bombing of North Vietnam will continue until Hanoi agrees to negotiate in a spirit of good will and in a constructive attitude.North Vietnamese negotiators walked out of secret talks in Paris on December 13.President Nixon issued an ultimatum to North Vietnam to send its representatives back to the conference table within 72 hours or else.They rejected Nixons demand and in response the president ordered Operation Linebacker II a full-scale air campaign against the Hanoi area.During the 11 days of the operation 700 B-52 sorties and more than 1000 fighter-bomber sorties dropped an estimated 20000 tons of bombs mostly over the densely populated area between Hanoi and Haiphong.
In the course of the bombing the Cuban Egyptian and Indian embassies were hit in Hanoi as were Russian and Chinese freighters in Haiphong.Bach Mai Hanois largest hospital was also damaged by the attacks.In the United States 41 American religious leaders issued a letter condemning the bombing.
