[fnordpiglet]

That’s one of their problems. But if you’ve visited the real problems are very apparent, and they start with their form of highly corrupt communism and hostility to the outside world. It’s not getting the attention from the west because the government is highly insular. Being the most efficient route to China and between Vietnam and Thailand makes it very strategically important, and China is probably more responsible for the state of Laos than anywhere else. It’s very much in their interest the west has no toe hold there, and that it stay effectively a vassal state dependent on their patronage.

[jimkleiber]

Just one thing to note, I'm sure among many: if I lived in a place they got bombed so much by outsiders, I'd probably become insular and hostile to outsiders.

Not saying I think they should stay that way, but maybe just adding one perspective on why they might feel that way.

[fnordpiglet]

In my time in Laos the people were incredibly welcoming and open to foreigners. I spent most my time around Paxe which is very rural, but also around the most intense American involvement as well. It may be different further north near the capital but there was a lot less bombing and special forces counter insurgency. I think, while not justifying anything, it’s really important to note that the Chinese and north Vietnamese had invaded Laos and were actively destabilizing the government and led to its collapse, as well as invited the American bombing campaigns that were focused on north Vietnamese captured territories. It’s easy to lay the blame on the US, but it’s not like China wasn’t directly responsible for drawing Laos into that position by force through the north Vietnamese proxy. The US tried to keep the central government of Laos from collapsing while China actively subverted it and installed the government they have today. Prior to French colonialism China pillaged Laos ransacking and razing their cities repeatedly to the point of causing a significant labor shortage in Laos. France tried to solve this through forced migrations from Vietnam to Laos to repopulate the country, leading to further instability. So - it’s not just the bombing, it’s a major confluence of really shitty behavior by a lot of people over Laos primarily because of its strategic importance, but if I were to lay blame on an outsider for their problems, I would place it entirely on China. Laos has been a pawn in chinas ambition for hundreds of years and it has it under complete control and subjugation at this point in time. Finally I would note almost all the bombing happened in very sparsely populated areas. It’s not like Europe or Japan where it was a wholesale bombing of major population centers. There were no dresdens, no nagasakis, fire bombings of Tokyo - all of which happened to countries that have embraced the world outside them.

[wolverine876]

Thank you for your experience and perspective

> In my time in Laos the people were incredibly welcoming and open to foreigners.

We need to be cognizant that often they have little choice. We have all the power and money. The economic disparities, as I'm sure you noticed, are hard to concieve without witnessing them.

[fnordpiglet]

It wasn’t about money or power. They were just extremely friendly people. In fact when I would get over charged for things the Laotian people would grow irate with the business operator because it was unfair.

[jimkleiber]

I really appreciate you writing this and giving me not context to what happened—thank you.