That was an inaccuracy moreso than a lie. The gulf of tonkin Incident involved two separate naval engagements. The first did involve enemy torpedo attacks and a destroyer was hit with 14.5mm gunfire, although it evaded the torpedos. The North Vietnamese claimed a torpedo hit and an aircraft shot down. The second incident 2 nights later involved the US destroyers firing on radar targets in weather conditions that turned out not to be enemy craft. US ships were attacked.
Sounds to me like there was no attack that actually occured on August 4th. Again, whether incompetence or corruption is the cause doesn't really matter. The accuracy of the governments statements can be called into question. These are big decisions they are making. They need to get their facts straight.
it's already been proven that by impartial investigators that it could have happened EXACTLY like the official government story said it did. does that prove it DID happen that way? no it doesn't but it does prove it could have, and to believe it was impossible would take someone incredibly gullible.
