First, he's not apologising for the absolute destruction of Laos
and the horrific legacy of the CIA's Secret War which continues to kill and
maim people even to this day. The country is to be pitied. Laos has the dubious
distinction of being the most bombed nation in history. His offer of clean-up
money is not an apology. Actually it's rather insulting and does nothing in the
way of taking responsibility for the atrocity. It's a manipulative pittance,
and little more.
Second, while Vietnam was historically tied to Russia due to
their long term enmity with China... Laos and Cambodia have been within China's
orbit. As a quick aside it's worth recalling that unified Vietnam and China
fought a brief but intense war in 1979. The relationship between Mao's PRC and
Ho's North Vietnam was never properly understood in the West. Vietnam is actually
a natural ally to Anti-Chinese US Imperialism. The only obstacle has been the US
intervention in Indochina and the nightmarish violence that it unleashed. It's
not easily swept under the rug but that's exactly what is beginning to happen.
It's been over 40 years, and both sides want to move on and embrace what I
don't doubt that some view as historical necessity if not destiny.
Obama's visit to Laos and the bomb remediation package is an
attempt to slowly woo Vientiane over into the American orbit. This began under
George W. Bush in 2006 with a trade package, and is now being continued by the
Obama administration. Historically there was a great deal of opposition to this
from the Hmong exile community in the United States. Vang Pao, the Hmong leader
in exile (who died in 2011), was implicated in a coup attempt in 2007, the year
after Bush's trade deal. Whether this was a last desperate attempt on the part
of the Hmong exile community or a ploy of the American Deep State is unclear.
At this point, the remaining leaders of the various factions
that were involved in the Indochina War are gone or soon will be. There are still
plenty of people who are alive that were involved in the conflicts but at this
point even the younger participants are reaching old age.
Nevertheless when looking upon the history of the whole
episode and US involvement in the region, from aiding the French in the wake of
World War II, up to US involvement and machinations in the 1950's and then actual
combat in the years following... I still cannot help but fall prey to a
visceral reaction, and one of loathing, when I see Americans walking around
wearing Vietnam Veteran hats or placing stickers on their cars.
They strike me as either callous reprobates and blind dupes
that have not even begun to weigh, consider or contemplate the totality of what
'Vietnam' represents. Even if there's a certain stubborn pride in the fact that
you were 18 and called up to 'serve' your country and you want to proclaim it
and acknowledge it... I still fail to understand the desire to call attention
to yourself. I can understand a
belligerent defiance on the part of a lost person when it comes to rejecting
feelings of criminality and self-loathing, a reaction to the years of shame
regarding Vietnam, but I don't understand the pride of today and the rampant war
revisionism. To celebrate your participation is to proclaim your ignorance if
not (to be charitable) your amorality. If it's a celebration of nationalist
ideal, then it is a religion and creed to be rejected just as one would
repudiate the worship of Molech and Baal. The American religion, especially as
expressed in the Indochina episode is one of blood sacrifice and the murder of
innocents.
It was a criminal war... by virtually any standard. And no
one can claim ignorance. There was enough truth available to challenge even the
hardest of hearts and the most stiff-necked conscience. There were hints of the
real dark and evil intrigues that later were exposed to the light of day. Now
illumined, I cannot understand those who wish to celebrate their participation
in theft and murder.
It's kind of like, even if I was a rabid Right-winger and
hated Hillary Clinton and was determined to vote for Donald Trump.... I still
wouldn't want to place a campaign sign in my yard. I wouldn't want to champion
that cause even if I did support it as a tactical move.
Which I most certainly do not.
Maybe it's my own prejudices, but when I see Vietnam stickers
and Trump signs, I cannot help but think... this person has some kind of deep
character flaw. There's something really wrong with them. I'm afraid I have the
same reaction when it comes to tattoos.
It's not too hard to contemplate when the person I'm looking
at is lost. But when the person professes to be a Christian, sometimes I don't
know what to think.
When I meet Christians who proudly tell me their son is in
the army, I usually want to say, "Well, God can still save them."
Or when someone says I'm a retired Marine, I want to say,
"Oh, so you're a newer Christian then?" or, "You became a
Christian late in life?"
To be fair, I became a Christian while in the military, but I
then began to work aggressively toward getting myself out as soon as possible.
Within months of my conversion I knew I wanted nothing to do with it.
I realise few readers will be as extreme as I am when it
comes to this topic, but Indochina in particular is still an issue that stirs
the emotions. I grew up in its wake but I've imbibed too much of the historical
record to not have pretty strong feelings about it and my reaction is pretty
severe when I encounter Christians who champion its evil.
A related article:
I agree that Obama's promise to fund clean-up efforts in order to ameliorate the effects of the Secret War is an empty gesture at best and is more likely part of a long-term strategy to draw the Laotians into an alliance with the West. Here's the thing: if you and I are aware of this, then we must assume that the Lao government is also aware of this and has a strategy of their own with the aim of benefiting as much as they can without upsetting the Chinese. Let's not forget that the people groups collectively known as the "Indochinese" were the first to defeat the Americans in a war and they did it through patience and careful strategy. They're no dummies. They're tough and sublimely cunning. In fact, it would be a gross error on the State Department's part to underestimate them.
ReplyDeleteThe communist government in Laos will of course welcome any offers of monetary aid from the US but I doubt they have any intention of entering into an alliance with them against China.
I agree.
ReplyDeleteIt's a dance. It's dangerous to offend Washington and totally reject them but at the same time it's also risky to let them in your country. A little move toward Washington might instigate Beijing to come in with a better offer. Like it or not, they're getting pulled into the game.
In the US, the Isolationist dream is a total fiction and yet non-Isolationism often seems to mean pro-active intervention. Both viewpoints are somewhat deceptive.