Prelude to The Secret War

Prelude toThe Secret War

Tou Lee Yang

www.slideshare.net/touleeyang

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Old Buddhist Old Buddhist TemplesTemples

REALLYREALLYOld Buddhist Old Buddhist

TemplesTemples

Floating MarketsFloating Markets

The Night Life!The Night Life!

PHOTOGRAPH FOR TIME ASIA BY PHILIP BLENKINSOP

Welcome to the Jungle!Welcome to the Jungle!

Ho Chi Minh establishes Ho Chi Minh establishes provisional governmentprovisional government

Japan transfers all powers to VietminhJapan transfers all powers to Vietminh19451945

Vietnam declares independence!Vietnam declares independence!19451945

Negotiations breakdown between French & VietminhNegotiations breakdown between French & Vietminh19461946

French Indochina WarFrench Indochina War1946 - 19541946 - 1954

CIA buys Civilian Air Transport (CAT)CIA buys Civilian Air Transport (CAT)August 1950August 1950

Supporting the FrenchSupporting the FrenchMay 1953 – Operation SQUAWMay 1953 – Operation SQUAW

Laos granted full independence Laos granted full independence from Francefrom France

19531953

Death of a KingDeath of a King

King Sisavang Vong diesKing Sisavang Vong diesOctober 1959October 1959

Souvanna Phouma & Kong Le carries out Souvanna Phouma & Kong Le carries out coup d’etat against governmentcoup d’etat against government

August 1960August 1960

““Laos is a very Laos is a very confused situation.”confused situation.”

President Eisenhower – August 1960President Eisenhower – August 1960

Prince Boun Oum’s Vientiane government Prince Boun Oum’s Vientiane government recognized by the Westrecognized by the West

January 1961January 1961

Police Aerial Reinforcement Unit – PARU ProjectPolice Aerial Reinforcement Unit – PARU ProjectCodename: Colonel BillyCodename: Colonel Billy

a Hmong friendsa Hmong friends

General Vang PaoGeneral Vang PaoRecruited by CIARecruited by CIA

Kennedy & KhruschevKennedy & Khruschev

Jointly supports Jointly supports ““neutral & independent” Laosneutral & independent” Laos

Sienna – June 1961Sienna – June 1961

Declaration ofDeclaration ofNeutrality of LaosNeutrality of Laos

Geneva – July 23, 1962Geneva – July 23, 1962

And they lived happily ever after…And they lived happily ever after…Sean Sutton

Sean Sutton

And they lived happily ever…And they lived happily ever…

And they lived happily…And they lived happily…

Tomas van Houtryve/IHT/Redux

Bettman/CORBISBettman/CORBIS

NVA still has 7,000 troops in LaosNVA still has 7,000 troops in LaosJune 1963June 1963

Bettman/CORBISBettman/CORBIS

Ambassador William H. SullivanAmbassador William H. SullivanDecember 1964December 1964

Roger Arnold / WpN

The Secret War BeginsThe Secret War Begins19651965

Tou Lee Yangtouleeyang@gmail.com

www.slideshare.net/touleeyang