America's Secret War in Laos Uncovered

[Invrlose]

http://abcnews.go.com/International/...ry?id=41968017

This week, Barack Obama became the first sitting U.S. president to visit the Southeast Asian nation of Laos. In making it his last stop on his last official trip to Asia, Obama wanted to turn the page on this painful chapter of U.S. history.

During the height of the Vietnam War, the U.S. conducted another war in secret in Laos, on Vietnam's western border, in an attempt to destroy communist supply lines. More bombs were dropped on Laos than over Germany and Japan in World War II combined. From 1964 to 1973, Laos was one of the most heavily bombed countries per capita in history.

However, 30 percent of the bombs dropped did not explode, and to this day, armed and active devices litter the country. Since the bombings stopped, tens of thousands of Lao have been killed or maimed by this unexploded ordnance, and 40 percent of the victims are children.

More than 40 years after the war, one-third of the country is still contaminated by unexploded ordnance — an ongoing cost of war that affects the Lao people daily.

As Obama makes his historic visit, ABC correspondent Bob Woodruff travels across Laos, meeting victims new and old bearing witness to the legacy left behind by America’s secret war.

[Kraide]

Did you just... make a thread whose title matches an article title, and then copy paste the entire article as your body?

I'm not saying there's a problem with that, but did you just?

[Invrlose]

Did you just... make a thread whose title matches an article title, and then copy paste the entire article as your body?

I'm not saying there's a problem with that, but did you just?

Yes I did, because there's not much else to expound upon? It happens frequently on here.

[Kraide]

Ah, so to discuss on topic then:

That's a pretty clickbait title, making it sound like there is currently a secret war in Laos and yet another reason to hate the current government, when in actuality there are remains of a war we are well aware of from the past. Yet, since so many people read titles and move on, you know somewhere somebody is actually asking somebody "Did you hear about the secret war in Laos? I read about it online! (insert current opinions that really should be past opinions here)"

[Invrlose]

Ah, so to discuss on topic then:

That's a pretty clickbait title, making it sound like there is currently a secret war in Laos and yet another reason to hate the current government, when in actuality there are remains of a war we are well aware of from the past. Yet, since so many people read titles and move on, you know somewhere somebody is actually asking somebody "Did you hear about the secret war in Laos? I read about it online! (insert current opinions that really should be past opinions here)"

Yeah because it's common knowledge to most americans that their country went to war with Laos and dropped more bombs on Laos than were dropped during the entirety of World War 2. NOWHERE does the title suggest that the war is currently going on. "Uncovered" brings to mind digging up something long and forgotten.

[Venant]

Ah, so to discuss on topic then:

That's a pretty clickbait title, making it sound like there is currently a secret war in Laos and yet another reason to hate the current government, when in actuality there are remains of a war we are well aware of from the past. Yet, since so many people read titles and move on, you know somewhere somebody is actually asking somebody "Did you hear about the secret war in Laos? I read about it online! (insert current opinions that really should be past opinions here)"

The real secret war has been in South Sudan and other parts of Africa during the Obama administration.

[Independent voter]

I think the last time we attacked Laos was in 1970 or so.

The US president just got back from a visit to Laos, he was well received. Maybe you should send this article to Laos?

[Invrlose]

I think the last time we attacked Laos was in 1970 or so.

The US president just got back from a visit to Laos, he was well received. Maybe you should send this article to Laos?

Um, thanks for telling me exactly what the article says.

[Raptor With a Saber]

This just in giant letters have attacked the nation of laos It is said that they have states Known information OP could not be reached for COMMENT

infracted - minor spam

[Invrlose]

This just in giant letters have attacked the nation of laos It is said that they have states Known information OP could not be reached for COMMENT

Well that was fuckin' obnoxious. Reported for attempted derailing.

[Raptor With a Saber]

Well that was fuckin' obnoxious. Reported for attempted derailing.

You tried to nation bash over info that has been known for years. No secret war happened or that next youre gonna say closing enemy supply lines in ww2 was secrect wars.

You copied pasted an article gave no input or anything. You were blatantly trying to nation bash.

[callipygoustp]

...because there's not much else to expound upon...

Excellent reason to start a thread.

[Invrlose]

Excellent reason to start a thread.

Have you not browsed this forum before? Half of the threads on here are just a discussion of copy & paste articles.

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You tried to nation bash over info that has been known for years

Nobody was nation bashing. Sit down. How can I be nation bashing when I didn't add any commentary? Please quote exactly where I was nation bashing. Jesus christ. It's not common knowledge that the US dropped more bombs over Laos than were dropped over Germany during the entirety of WW2. Anyone who tries to make that claim is being dishonest with his/herself.

[May90]

How is it a "secret war"? I thought it was common knowledge...

[Invrlose]

How is it a "secret war"? I thought it was common knowledge...

Ask the average american about their opinion of the bombing campaign in Laos and then tell me how many blank stares you get back.

[Hey There Guys its Metro]

woah thanks for uncovering this! It was a secret for so long.

[Deletedaccount1]

Ask the average american about their opinion of the bombing campaign in Laos and then tell me how many blank stares you get back.

why should they care?

[shadowmouse]

Half of the threads on here are just a discussion of copy & paste articles

Yep, and it is damned annoying. That is, however, no reason to jump on the bandwagon.

There might have been material in that article that would lead to a discussion, but you didn't put the effort in to lay any groundwork and look where it went.

In my day, it was widely known that the Vietnam Conflict slopped over onto other countries and that often involved heavy bombing. Focusing on how many bombs were dropped overlooks one of the more important parts of the article -- a hell of a lot of unexploded bombs remain and they're still killing people.

[Invrlose]

why should they care?

Nice red herring. To answer the question anyway, you should care that your country bombed a fucking country back to the stone age and has left active cluster-bombs there that frequently maim children.

- - - Updated - - -

Yep, and it is damned annoying. That is, however, no reason to jump on the bandwagon.

There might have been material in that article that would lead to a discussion, but you didn't put the effort in to lay any groundwork and look where it went.

In my day, it was widely known that the Vietnam Conflict slopped over onto other countries and that often involved heavy bombing. Focusing on how many bombs were dropped overlooks one of the more important parts of the article -- a hell of a lot of unexploded bombs remain and they're still killing people.

You mean like the part where I fucking highlighted that says in big bold letters "30 percent of the bombs dropped did not explode and one-third of the country is still contaminated by unexploded ordnance

[Deletedaccount1]

Nice red herring. To answer the question anyway, you should care that your country bombed a fucking country back to the stone age and has left active cluster-bombs there that frequently maim children.

It isn't a red herring. I simply mean to say that it doesn't matter whether or not it is common knowledge. 99.9% of Americans alive today had nothing to do with bombing Laos and the majority were not even alive when it happened. There is nothing they can do about it and it has about as much to do with them as every other horrible thing that happens every day on this planet.