been fought over for 12 years. so they reconvened their central military committee and determined that the iron is hot. and this the time to strike. >> president thieu said he would not abandon the city but the people are leaving anyway. the president said he would not abandon the city and that city is gone. >> the world witnessed the tragedy and the next thing you know those of us sitting in saigon are watching our map legitimately bleed red. ♪ >> a somber henry kissinger outlined in a news conference what he saw as the choices now facing the united states. >> what we face now is whether the united states, not just will withdraw its forces, which we achieved, and not just will start the end of the loss of