A desperate life for Secret War veterans

[Nono]

A desperate life for survivors of the Secret War in Laos - International Herald Tribune

I just read this. Yet another example of the consequences of armed conflict reverberating on down the decades, something the let's-have-ourselves-a-little-war freaks should stop and think about.

Another excellent example from this same country -- Laos -- is all the unexploded ordnance left from the many thousands of American air raids. Lots of rice farmers still getting killed to this day by that stuff. Somehow doesn't get mentioned on Fox News though.

[xyzer]

NO!NO! Nono? Your reference and your logic is flawed. You say the USA bombed Laos and that unexploded stuff is still around? Yet the article you referenced says.
.

The CIA operation, which ran from 1961 until 1975, became known as the Secret War because, unlike in Vietnam, the fighting was done not by American soldiers but by the CIA's mercenaries, most of whom were from the hill-dwelling Hmong ethnic group.

You and the source don't make logical sense? We didn't bomb Laos and our troops were not allowed to venture into that country. The war in Vietnam ended in the early 1970s, what profit would the CIA have in continuing to fund guerilla warfare? How could they possible get congressional funding for such a venture?

Ever hear the statement "get your facts straight and then you can attempt to distort them"? I think it applies here.
CIA undercover theories are a great source for conspiracy theorists? Does it occur to you that after the war ended the CIA wouldn't have any need to fund guerillas in a neutral country. Congress wouldn't approve it?
Balderdash and journalistic nonsense!

[Thanatos]

Quote by: xyzer NO!NO! Nono? Your reference and your logic is flawed. You say the USA bombed Laos and that unexploded stuff is still around? Yet the article you referenced says. . You and the source don't make logical sense? We didn't bomb Laos and our troops were not allowed to venture into that country. The war in Vietnam ended in the early 1970s, what profit would the CIA have in continuing to fund guerilla warfare? How could they possible get congressional funding for such a venture? Ever hear the statement "get your facts straight and then you can attempt to distort them"? I think it applies here. CIA undercover theories are a great source for conspiracy theorists? Does it occur to you that after the war ended the CIA wouldn't have any need to fund guerillas in a neutral country. Congress wouldn't approve it? Balderdash and journalistic nonsense!

I'm just going to stare at the computer screen in stunned silence for a moment.

Google Earth Community: US Air Force Bomb Data Vietnam War 1965-75

Here we go...I love the FOIA.

CIA FOIA - Search Results

Try REDACTED JANUARY 1975 JCIA PLENARY SESSION AGREEMENT ON THE WITHDRAWAL OF FOREI from 1/17/1975.

There's all sorts of other stuff in there; our exchange of prisoners with the Pathet Lao, status updates on how the war was going...you're living in your own little world. Your supposed contradiction is because we pitted one faction of Laotians against the other and gave them heavy air support.

[Gods_Mercenary]

Interesting article. If you side with the CIA, you'd better be sure you can win, cause you can end up screwed.

[xyzer]

Let me just use a quote from the expert source you posted...Thanatos...

Unfortunately, the existing US Air Force Bombing database also records only a small fraction (and in some cases none) of extensive air-bombing campaigns and air-dropped land mine "seeding" operations of Air Forces of the Republic of South Vietnam, Royal Lao, Thai, Khmer FANK, Mong and CIA (Igloo White & Air America).

I'm still waiting for official confirmation of the assertion. Just who did drop all that dangeroue unexploded stuff in Laos? The CIA is the only American entity mentioned (Air America)and it didn't have bombers that I know of?

You guys are so hooked on CIA conspiracy nonsense that you don't know what you are talking about! The list doesn't include USAir Force Data because the US troops weren't allowed in the damn country. I was in the Danang/Dong Ha TAORS at the time mid 60s and the US wasn't allowed to bomb the HO Chi Min Trail in Laos or even cross the border to retaliate against Vietcong incursions from Laos! Thats the facts! I hope your stunned silence doesn't put you to sleep Thanatos! By the way, trust your government and not the newpapers. Though even the Tribue reports

The CIA operation, which ran from 1961 until 1975, became known as the Secret War because, unlike in Vietnam, the fighting was done not by American soldiers but by the CIA's mercenaries, most of whom were from the hill-dwelling Hmong ethnic group.

By the way the first American Troops (Advisors) didn't arrive until about 64. 3d Marine Division landed in Danang area in 1965 and then the buildup began.

[Nono]

Quote by: xyzer We didn't bomb Laos.

Right. And the Earth is flat. And Auschwitz didn't exist -- it's a myth propagated by the international Jewish-Communist conspiracy. And the tooth fairy had best stop shoving things under my pillow or I'll miss my beauty sleep. And, uh, a whole bunch of other "facts".

You're on a historical acid trip, x. Come on down.

Two million metric tonnes (1 m. tonne = 2,200 lb.) of unexploded ordnance: United Nations Radio: Unexploded Bombs Dropped by the U.S. Air Force Continue to Plague Laos

25 million pieces of unexploded ordnance: The Swiss Foundation for Mine Action is launching a project in Laos on the eve of the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action. - swissinfo

Get a life, x. If you can't post on this subject without claiming that black is white and white is black, well, you ought to be ashamed.

[Jack]

By the way the first American Troops (Advisors) didn't arrive until about 64

Go back a few years. Intelligence activities in Viet Nam are not part of the official history of the war and the dates of their involvement don't mirror those of the uniformed military.

1956 US Training South Vietnamese: The US Military Assistance Advisor Group (MAAG) assumes responsibility, from French, for training South Vietnamese forces. 1957 Terrorist Bombings Rock Saigon: Thirteen Americans working for MAAG and US Information Service are wounded in terrorist bombings in Saigon. 1959 US Servicemen Killed in Guerilla Attack: Major Dale R. Buis and Master Sargeant Chester M. Ovnand become the first Americans to die in the Vietnam War when guerillas strike at Bienhoa

Vietnam War Timeline

In 1961, South Vietnam signed a military and economic aid treaty with the United States leading to the arrival (1961) of U.S. support troops and the formation (1962) of the U.S. Military Assistance Command.

VietnamWar.com:The Vietnam War - History of the Vietnam War