The Secret Of The Vietnam War - 1144 Words

Most Americans are aware of the Vietnam war, but have never heard of the Secret War in Laos. The War in Laos was the first of it’s kind; it was the CIA’s first ever paramilitary operation during the Cold War. My family is connected to the time period of the Cold War because my grandfather was sent to a prison camp by the Communists after the US withdrew from Indochina. My family was affected by the event because after escaping the camp and seeking refuge in Thailand, my grandfather immigrated to the United States and most of our family is living here now. In the 19th century, France colonized â€Å"Indochina†- what is now known as Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia- to exploit the environment for economic gain, under the guise of wanting to spread†¦show more content†¦The Hmong are an ethnic group of people who live in the mountains of Laos. They were seen as uncivilized barbarians by Laotians, Thai and Vietnamese people. The CIA hired them to become soldiers i n the Secret War, due to their strength, fighting spirit, and expert knowledge of the terrain. As the war intensified, the US sent fighter-bombers to assist Hmong ground forces against the Pathet Lao (Lao Communist soldiers). According to Kurlantzick, by 1973 the US had conducted more than 580,000 bombing runs over Laos. â€Å"In 1969 alone,† writes Kurlantzick, â€Å"the United States dropped more bombs on Laos than it did on Japan during all of World War II.† Yet, due to lax congressional oversight and media ignorance the American people knew very little about any of this. When the US withdrew in 1975, the Hmong rightly felt betrayed. They were left without support, supplies, and nowhere to go. Most Hmong were hunted down by the Communists and thrown into reeducation camps along with anyone else who resisted the new Communist government. Immediately after the Communists took over, people were sent to what they called â€Å"seminars† or â€Å"reeducation camps†. These camps were the centerpiece of the new regime s policy towardShow MoreRelatedThe Secret War And How It Affected The Hmong People1230 Words   |  5 PagesTOPIC: The Secret War and how it affected the Hmong people. SPECIFIC PURPOSE: At the end of my speech, my audience will get a better sense of what the Secret War was and how it affected the Hmong people. INTRODUCTION: Just by the name itself, it can already be implied to what the â€Å"Secret War† was. It was a war that was kept as a secret from the public, and by public, I mean the American public. Many of you may wonder what exactly is the secret war, and I will explain that throughout my speech. ButRead MoreThe Mystery War Against Hanoi1137 Words   |  5 PagesThose mystery War Against Hanoi: Kennedy s Also Johnson s utilization of Spies, Saboteurs, Furthermore secret Warriors Previously, north Vietnam, Eventually Tom s perusing Richard H. Shultz, jr. , 1999, HarperCollins Books, new york. At once At goes about about military hostility perpetrated alternately wanted Eventually Tom s perusing the us government need aid regularly advocated in the sake about battling international terrorism, a book need seemed which documents America s part ConcerningRead MoreEssay about The Secret War in Laos: Why Was It a Secret?1635 Words   |  7 Pagesimportant it may be for the general population t o know. In the beginning of the Vietnam War, Laos was declared a neutral zone at a conference in Geneva by the United States and the Soviet Union (Jones, 2007). 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