Today in History - The Covert War in Laos: Controversial Objectives, Mixed Outcomes, and Lasting Consequences
Journal of Indo-Pacific Affairs
An international forum aimed at forging Indo-Pacific policy, strategy, and partnerships.
Introduction
The US covert war in Laos during the Vietnam War remains one of the most contentious and little-understood aspects of the conflict. It was a covert operation conducted under the aegis of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and was shrouded in secrecy, with the US government denying its existence until the late 1960s. Indeed, it was not until 13 March 1970 that CIA director Richard Helms confirmed that his agency was active in Laos under cover of the US Agency for International Development (USAID). This article seeks to analyze the covert war in Laos, its objectives, and outcomes, and evaluate its legacy.
Objectives of the Covert War
The objectives of the US covert war in Laos were threefold:
Disrupting the Ho Chi Minh Trail
The Ho Chi Minh trail was a complex network of roads and trails that ran through Laos and Cambodia, providing a vital supply line for the North Vietnamese Army during the Vietnam War. The trail system was a critical link between North Vietnam and its forces in South Vietnam, enabling the North Vietnamese to transport troops, weapons, ammunition, and other supplies to the battlefield.
The US recognized the importance of the trail system and sought to disrupt it through a combination of aerial bombardment, ground operations, and support for anticommunist forces in Laos. The covert war in Laos was part of this effort, as the US provided military and economic assistance to anticommunist forces in Laos and launched a sustained bombing campaign against the trail system.
The aerial bombardment campaign, codenamed Operation Barrel Roll, involved the dropping of more than two million tons of bombs on Laos over the course of nine years. The bombing campaign aimed to disrupt the flow of supplies along the trail system, but it also caused significant environmental damage and civilian casualties.
In addition to the bombing campaign, the US also conducted ground operations in Laos, deploying Special Forces and CIA operatives to train and assist anticommunist forces. The US also provided military equipment and supplies to these forces, including weapons, ammunition, and communications equipment.
Despite these efforts, the North Vietnamese were able to continue using the trail system throughout the war, albeit with greater difficulty and at a higher cost. The covert war in Laos was only partially successful in disrupting the flow of supplies along the trail system, and it came at a significant cost in terms of human life and environmental damage.
Supporting the Laotian Government
The US began its support for the pro-Western government of Laos in the 1950s, as part of its broader efforts to contain communism in Southeast Asia. However, the situation in Laos became more complicated after the Geneva Accords in 1954, which effectively ended the French colonial presence in Laos and divided the country into two zones: the Royal Lao Government Zone and the Pathet Lao Zone.
In the years that followed, the Pathet Lao intensified its campaign to overthrow the Laotian government, and the US increased its support for the Royal Lao Government, which was led by a pro-Western monarchy. The US provided military and economic aid to the government and also trained and supported anticommunist forces in Laos, including Hmong tribesmen led by General Vang Pao.
The covert war in Laos was a significant component of this effort to support the pro-Western government and prevent the spread of communism in Southeast Asia. The US provided air support to anticommunist forces in Laos, including bombing missions against Pathet Lao and North Vietnamese targets along the Ho Chi Minh trail. The US also conducted reconnaissance missions over Laos to gather intelligence on communist activities and to locate targets for air strikes.
Diverting North Vietnamese Troops
The US believed that by drawing North Vietnamese troops into a conflict in Laos, it would have the effect of draining their resources and weakening their ability to fight in South Vietnam. This strategy of "attrition" had been employed by the US military in the past, particularly during the Korean War, and was seen as a viable option to reduce the number of North Vietnamese forces fighting in the south. The US also hoped that by increasing the intensity of the conflict in Laos, it could force North Vietnam to come to the negotiating table and agree to a peaceful settlement.
To achieve this objective, the US provided military support to anticommunist forces in Laos, including the Hmong people, who were led by General Vang Pao. The Hmong were a tribal people who lived in the mountains of northern Laos and had a long history of fighting against invading forces. They became the primary force fighting against the Pathet Lao and the North Vietnamese in Laos and were heavily supported by the US. The US provided them with weapons, ammunition, and other supplies, and also trained them in guerrilla tactics and jungle warfare.
In addition to supporting the Hmong, the US also conducted a massive bombing campaign in Laos, dropping over two million tons of bombs on the country between 1964 and 1973. This bombing campaign was designed to disrupt the Ho Chi Minh trail and destroy North Vietnamese supply lines in Laos. However, the bombing had a devastating impact on the civilian population, killing tens of thousands of Laotians and displacing hundreds of thousands more. The legacy of this bombing campaign is still felt in Laos today, as unexploded ordnance continues to pose a threat to the population.
Outcomes of the Covert War
The US covert war in Laos had both immediate and long-term consequences for the country and its people. While the US was able to disrupt the flow of troops and supplies along the Ho Chi Minh trail, the other objectives of the war were not fully realized. The communist Pathet Lao were able to seize power in 1975, despite US efforts to support the pro-Western government of Laos.
The covert war in Laos also had a devastating impact on the civilian population. The use of chemical weapons, such as napalm and Agent Orange, caused significant environmental damage and long-term health effects on the local population. These weapons were used to destroy supply depots and to clear areas for landing strips, but their use had unintended consequences for the people and the environment. The use of napalm, for example, resulted in widespread fires that destroyed homes and crops, and caused civilian casualties.
Furthermore, the war led to massive displacement and suffering for the people of Laos, who were caught in the crossfire between the Pathet Lao and the US-backed forces. Many villages were destroyed, and thousands of people were forced to flee their homes to escape the fighting. This led to a humanitarian crisis in Laos, with many people struggling to find food, shelter, and medical care.
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In the long term, the covert war in Laos had significant implications for the country's development and political trajectory. The rise of the Pathet Lao and the establishment of a communist state in Laos had implications for the region and for US strategic interests in Southeast Asia. Moreover, the environmental damage caused by the use of chemical weapons had long-lasting consequences for the health and well-being of the local population.
Legacy of the Covert War
The legacy of the US covert war in Laos is a topic of ongoing debate. Supporters of the intervention also argue that the US provided military and economic aid to the Laotian government, which helped to modernize its armed forces and improve the country's infrastructure. This aid was essential for the Laotian government to defend itself against the Pathet Lao insurgency and stabilize the country.
Despite these arguments, critics of the US intervention point to the significant human cost of the covert war in Laos, including the displacement of civilians, the use of chemical weapons, and the bombing of villages. They argue that the intervention violated Laos' sovereignty and caused long-lasting harm to its people, without achieving lasting strategic gains for the US. The controversy surrounding the covert war continues to shape debates about the role of the US in global affairs and the ethics of military intervention.
The US covert war in Laos was a turning point in American foreign policy. Prior to the operation, the US had primarily engaged in conventional military interventions, such as the Korean and Vietnam Wars. However, the failure to achieve the desired outcomes in Vietnam, coupled with the domestic opposition to the war, led to a re-evaluation of US foreign policy.
The covert war in Laos was seen as a way to continue the fight against communism while avoiding the risks and costs associated with a full-scale military intervention. The use of covert and deniable methods allowed the US to avoid the public scrutiny and opposition that had plagued previous interventions. This approach became known as the "Third Option" in US foreign policy, alongside diplomatic efforts and traditional military interventions.
The success of the covert war in disrupting the Ho Chi Minh trail and preventing the flow of troops and supplies to South Vietnam further cemented this shift toward covert operations. This approach was employed in other conflicts, such as the US support for the Contras in Nicaragua and the arming of Afghan mujahideen during the Soviet-Afghan War.
The use of covert operations in US foreign policy has continued to this day, with drone strikes and special forces operations being used in conflicts around the world. However, the lack of transparency and accountability associated with covert operations has raised concerns about the potential for abuse and the erosion of democratic values. Ultimately, the covert war in Laos highlights the complexities and ethical dilemmas of military intervention and the long-term consequences of such actions.
Conclusion
The US covert war in Laos was a complex and controversial operation that remains a subject of intense debate. While its objectives were understandable, its methods were often brutal and indiscriminate, leading to significant human suffering and environmental damage. The legacy of the covert war has had a profound impact on US foreign policy and public perception of government, and it serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of covert operations and the importance of transparency and accountability in government.
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