Of course the author of the
Submitted by Robald (not verified) on Wed, 24/08/2011 - 21:14.
Of course the author of the article is well informed about regional history but IMO remains stagnant in that all of SE Asia is lumped into one big mess of "impossible to manage" as if they themselves had somehow had malevolent leaders pop up.
They may just have popped up but they were welcome by those in power and cultivated by outside powers. The US, France and UK for example did not come here to liberate the people from oppressors and give them democracy. In fact, wherever the US went it hit so hard it helped create violent reaction.
Cambodia through the heavy bombings. The Khmer Rouge were radicalized and became even more hateful as a result. The US of course supported dictatorial governments. Often they set them up themselves.
Vietnam the same. To hell with election results, put in heavy-handed dictators that will play ball with us. As a result, it dynamised the communist movements and ousted more and more people which ran into their arms. The murderous bombings and slaughters of millions (some estimate 3,000,000 north vietnamese were killed) drove people by the millions running from "freedom and democracy" to help overthrow the Yankees and their dictator puppets.
In Laos despite the determined effort of a neutral government to stay clear in choosing sides the US, determined to make them dance to their tune bombed...and bombed...and bombed. In time the communists became stronger and took over.
Wherever the US goes, it creates havoc and hell. Those that want to dance their dance of death must accept the American version of democracy (usually meaning decades of dictatorship to wipe out all opposition and then holding "free election") and also, they must equate "freedom" with "free market economy". The latter is non-existent. You get to the top if your buddy, brother or cohort in legal crime is already there.
50 years, and three
Submitted by john francis lee (not verified) on Fri, 26/08/2011 - 09:45.
50 years, and three generations of agent orange
Unexploded Ordnance in Laos - UXO LAO
Landmines in Cambodia