In so doing the Marines had shown that a substantial American combat force could be brought to bear quickly in the remote areas chosen by the Communists as targets for their so-called “wars of national liberation.” Furthermore, the MEU by relying on a vigorous civic action program, had established that a sizable Marine command could maintain its combat readiness almost indefinitely without eroding the respect of the indigenous population. Thus, General Simpson’s Marines had created a solid foundation of mutual respect and confidence with the Thai people. This accomplishment alone would prove valuable when American military forces would be required to return to northern Thailand later in the decade. Against the backdrop of these accomplishments, the 3d Marine Expeditionary Unit’s operations in Thailand could be assessed as having extended the tradition of the U.S. Marine Corps as an effective instrument of American diplomacy. PART III THE STRUGGLE CONTINUES, 1963 CHAPTER 8 The Marine Advisory Effort _The Political Climate--The Advisory Division and VNMC Operations--Accomplishments_ _The Political Climate_ A sudden rupture occurred in South Vietnam’s internal political situation during 1963 which largely determined the course of the war as well as the nation’s future. Following the sect uprising of 1955–1956, the Diem government had experienced a three-year period of relative political tranquility. Beginning in 1959, however, political dissent had begun to re-emerge from several influential segments of South Vietnamese society. The results of the August 1959 national elections, in which pro-Diem candidates captured every seat in the National Assembly, served to stimulate political opposition which had lain dormant for nearly four years. Opposition to the government mounted steadily in the months following the elections within military as well as political circles as some South Vietnamese officers began privately expressing disenchantment with Diem’s management of the war. Then came the abortive coup in November 1960. The regime’s popularity diminished in the wake of this crisis as Diem tightened his control on the war-torn nation.