At War in the Shadow of Vietnam (Paperback)

by Professor Timothy Castle (Author) "On December 2, 1975, the six-hundred-year-old Laotian monarchy was abolished and the royal Lao government replaced by the Lao People's Democratic Republic..." (more)
Key Phrases: military aid program, military assistance program, electrical message, United States, Pathet Lao, Air America (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
Presents a balanced and accurate account of a 'secret war' the United States conducted over many years in the almost mythical mountain kingdom of Laos. . . . Castle draw[s] a clear path through the tangles of American bureaucratic and political problems to show how an ad hoc solution to a novel dilemma was constructed and operated. He has made a distinct contribution to America's history and to the finest traditions of scholarship. -- Review

Product Description
The first book to recount the full story of U.S. covert operations in Laos during the Vietnam war. Based on newly declassified materials and interviews with dozens of key American and Lao officials, it examines the structure of the U.S. "secret war" in Laos and the long-term consequences associated with it.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 210 pages
• Publisher: Columbia University Press (April 15, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 023107977X
• ISBN-13: 978-0231079778
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #777,362 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well-documented history of an almost forgotten war., April 3, 2000

By	R. ARANT "toun" (Lanesville, Indiana USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The failed American military involvement in Laos presents a tough target for any researcher, but Dr. Castle successfully negotiates the obstacle course to gain access to and declassify critical documents which form the foundation for this valuable look back on an episode in danger of being forgotten. Well-documented interviews with key players of the time fill in many but not all of the gaps. Those readers more interested in the personal impact on the families of those lost in action during this failed campaign will find Castle's follow-on book "One Day Too Long" a more direct fit to their needs.