Word: phoumi
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Dates: during 1960-1969
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...years of halfhearted jungle warfare. Kong Le and his Pathet Lao allies fled north into the jungle last week, dragging their Russian-supplied howitzers behind them over primitive roads. Into the city rolled Prince Boun Oum, 53, the new Premier, along with Laos' real strongman, General Phoumi Nosavan...
...jungle, Russian Ilyushin planes flying from North Viet Nam dropped supplies to his troops; his route of march would take him straight to the royal capital of Luang-prabang, where torpid King Savang Vatthana has sat for five months treating the whole civil war with lofty disdain. But General Phoumi made no attempt to pursue, airily declared that his jungle garrisons would take care of Kong Le along the way. General Phoumi's only announced policy is to "transform all Laotians into Laotians" (i.e., non-Communists). To which Prince Boun Oum added this sage advice: "One can get medicine...
Over stout objections from the British and French that the only feasible course for apathetic Laos was Kong Le-style neutralism, the U.S. had pushed for and helped secure the victory for General Phoumi. But once ensconced in Vientiane, Phoumi (who is a second cousin and staunch admirer of pro-Western Strongman Sarit Thanarat in neighboring Thailand) showed no more zeal than any of his predecessors for running the Communists to ground. Though he is described as a "strongman," was he strong enough, or determined enough, to battle the Pathet Lao into submission and enforce peace? It seemed doubtful. Perhaps...
Changing Flags. For three days the battle lines shifted. Desertions were commonplace and simple to effect; a soldier of uncertain mind had only to change the red arm band of the Kong Le faction for the white band of General Phoumi. Anxious to please, shopkeepers waved red or white flags as the tide of battle wavered...
...which maintained correct relations with Neutralist Souvanna but made no secret of its private preference for anti-Communist Phoumi, quickly offered its support. A State Department spokesman warned that aggression against Laos from Communist North Viet Nam could bring both Thailand and South Viet Nam to the rescue and start a Southeast Asian war. But even without overt aggression, Boun Oum and Phoumi faced bitter days ahead. Though Phoumi declared that all he wanted was "a neutral Laos," the Communists were smarting for revenge, and from the Pathet Lao came an order of the day: "Develop guerrilla warfare powerfully. Destroy...