In the township of Phonsavan, not far from the room where I took my previous image,
"Craters Restaurant" is known for its array of unexploded American bombs at the entry. Phonsavan township (now the capital of Xieng Khouang province in Laos) has been built since the 1970s, as both it and the former provincial capital after which the province was named were totally destroyed by US bombing.
I had thought of posting this image for HFF, but it's not a happy context.
Xieng Khouang province was one of the most heavily bombed parts of Laos, on which the US dropped over 2 million tonnes of bombs (more, in total, than was dropped by all combatants in WW2) during the "Secret War" between 1969 and 1975 - the equivalent of a plane load of bombs every eight minutes throughout that period. The result can be seen in aerial views such as
this one from Wolfgang (ipernity) . Sadly, much of the bombing consisted of anti-personnel cluster bombs "bombies" which were
released from containers such as the large shell at right. It is estimated that some 80 million of these dreadful devices remain unexploded and strewn around the countryside, killing and maiming many people yearly.
The "Secret War" (more details here) did not become public knowledge until after the American withdrawal from Vietnam. As for the role of the CIA, which were major players, the reality was close to the film
"Apocalypse Now", as they fomented uprisings by the Hmong hill tribes while running their own secret air force within neutral Laos, itself involved in a civil war.
If you can stand it, here are a few more links for those interested in more background:
plainofjars.net/war.htm
blogs.lse.ac.uk/lseih/2020/02/11/bombies-legacies-of-the-secret-war-in-laos
www.peacequest.ca/laos-is-beautiful-too-bad-about-the-80-million-unexploded-bombies
20 comments
Erhard Bernstein said:
tiabunna replied to Erhard Bernstein:
Peter_Private_Box said:
A very nice picture, and great information!!
Fantastic colours
Best Wishes, a nice weekend, and stay safe!!
Peter
tiabunna replied to Peter_Private_Box:
William Sutherland said:
Admired in:
www.ipernity.com/group/tolerance
tiabunna replied to William Sutherland:
Pam J said:
tiabunna replied to Pam J:
©UdoSm said:
tiabunna replied to ©UdoSm:
©UdoSm replied to tiabunna:
But do the Americans understand that, or will they vote for this guy again ???
I would like to know this thoughts... A terrible idea !!!
Nouchetdu38 said:
RHH said:
Léopold said:
We have been many days in this town in 2019.
GrahamH said: