[lbo-talk] Eat shit and die, was United against a Pro-War Democrat

lweiger at umich.edu lweiger at umich.edu
Fri Sep 24 11:25:15 PDT 2004


My point wasn't that it was a good idea to bomb the hell out of SE Asia. But it wasn't a plot to wreck the economy of a future communist state--rather, it was an idiotic plot to show that the US would oppose communist revolution with massive firepower.

Quoting Michael Pugliese <michael098762001 at earthlink.net>:


> On Fri, 24 Sep 2004 12:51:53 -0400, <lweiger at umich.edu> wrote:
>
> >
> > I'd imagine the US had a lot more fire-power on hand.
>
> http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/1100842.stm
> "American B52s and other aircraft dropped more bombs than fell on all of
> Europe during World War II, " in Laos.
>
> Just in Laos...Bombing Laos
> From Ralph McGehee <rmcgehee at igc.apc.org>
> 9 October, 1995
>
> The below information is provided based on a request for information in
> soc.history.war.vietnam.
>
> Once the bombing began, the civilian population became the target for more
> than two million tons of bombs. Anthony Lewis wrote that this "was the
> most appalling episode of lawless cruelty in American history."
>
> The below information, much from Douglas Blaufarb, a "top" CIA official in
> Laos, lends credence to Lewis's quote.
>
> Laos 64-70 Barrel role resulted in obliteration of such towns as xieng
> Khouangville, phongsavan, khang khay, and ban ban--all on plain of
> jars--as Well as, among others, mahaxay and tchepone. Such destruction
> resulted from Relaxed ground rules, permitting heavy attacks on military
> targets in or Near towns, and huge increase of available sorties.
> Blaufarb, d.s. (1972). Organizing and managing unconventional war in laos,
> 1962-1970 51
>
> Laos, 62-70 Destruction towns and villages by bombing. Tribal refugees as
> Of april 70 246,000. Over years possibly 700,000 of 1,900,000 under rlg
> Left homes. Casualties toll meo between 9 to 22% meo population laos.
> Blaufarb, d.s. (1972). Organizing and managing unconventional war in laos,
> 1962-1970 86
>
> Laos, 62-70 Usaf bombing north laos to 42,000 sorties a year by 70. First
> time sophisticated high-performance aircraft supported a resistance
> Movement primitive tribesmen. Resistance depended on air transport
> provided By private american contractors with large cargo planes, stol
> aircraft, and H-34 helicopters. Blaufarb, d.s. (1972). Organizing and
> managing Unconventional war in laos, 1962-1970 ix
>
> Laos, 62-73 Cia pilots flew supply and bombing missions in cia-owned
> Planes in support of the secret army. The budget to support the army was
> at Least $300 million a year. 40-50 cia officers ran program, aided by
> several Hundred contract personnel. Congressional research service.
> (2/18/75). Covert acts of the cia 50-74 2/18/75 8
>
> Laos, 64-70 Usaf campaign laos in two parts. Bombing ho chi minh trail
> With two segments steel tiger and tiger hound with control from saigon.
> Usaf combat activity in north called barrel roll and provided support to
> the resistance beginning 64. Attack sorties in barrel role totaled 15,144
> and soared to 42,279 in fy 70. Hit road traffic, depots, and other
> military Installations and flew combat support for irregulars. Blaufarb,
> d.s. (1972). Organizing and managing unconventional war in laos, 1962-1970
> 49
>
> Laos, 68 When president johnson ordered halt to bombing in north vietnam
> it meant shackley's vientiane station could have 300 tactical air strikes
> a Day around site 36. Corn, d. (1994). Blond ghost: ted shackley and the
> Cia's crusades 161-2
>
> Laos. In early days secret war t-28 fighter-bombers bearing royal lao
> Insignia flown by aa pilots on regular bombing missions on pathet lao and
> Nvese positions along ho chi minh trail. Robbins, c. (1979). Air america
> 130
>
> Laos. See chart in ciaf for a year by year breakdown of bombing tonnage.
> Borosage, r.l., & marks, j. (Eds.). (1976). The cia file 77
>
> Laos. U.s. Air force bombing tonnage listed. By time peace agreement
> Reached 733, weight bombs dropped on laos exceeded tonnage of all
> munitions Used by u.s. In world war ii. Prados, j. (1986). Presidents'
> secret wars 279
>
> Laos, 61-75 Americans in civilian clothes flew spotter planes directing
> U.s. Air force strikes against the ho chi minh trail; american "civilian"
> Contractor operated a huge and secret air force radar complex in n.laos.
> The secret air force bombing of laos began in 65. The air force dropped
> 1.6 Million tons bombs on laos, more than it dropped on germany in wwii.
> Volkman, e., & baggett, b. (1989). Secret intelligence 145
>
> Laos, 62-70 Destruction towns and villages by bombing. Tribal refugees as
> Of april 70 246,000. Over years possibly 700,000 of 1,900,000 under rlg
> Left homes. Casualties toll meo between 9 to 22% meo population laos.
> Blaufarb, d.s. (1972). Organizing and managing unconventional war in laos,
> 1962-1970 86
>
> Laos, circa 69 Vang pao's war to be given one and a half times number Air
> sorties allocated to all of vietnam. 2 day campaign against xieng Khouang
> resulted 1500 buildings flattened, four towns wiped from map. Robbins, c.
> (1987). The ravens 154, 56
> --
> Michael Pugliese
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>
>
>



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