War
- Yes, another background chapter. It's okay, you should be used to it by now.
- So let's get down to it. As a culture, the Hmong are defined by their long tradition of living in the mountains. While in Laos, the Hmong develop a strong bias against the lowlands, which they dub "the land of leeches" (10.3).
- Hmong culture is also deeply rooted in agriculture. Though they grow their own food, their primary cash crop is opium, which is used only sparingly within Hmong society for both medical and religious purposes.
- They also practice a unique farming method known as "slash-and-burn" (10.8). In this method, a field is set aflame before crops are planted, making plowing easier and fertilizing the soil. Unfortunately, this also depletes the soil in short order, forcing the community to move on a frequent basis. Tsk tsk.
- During the '50s, Laos catches the attention of good old 'Murica. Caught in the middle of the Cold War, President Kennedy sees Laos as the only barrier to Soviet dominance in Southeast Asia. You can bet the words "only barrier" don't bode so well for the Laotians.
- First, the American troops train the Laos army, which is led by the local anti-communist government. But that's not all, folk—the CIA also secretly trains Hmong men to fight along the border between Laos and Vietnam. Sneaky.
- The Hmong are natural choices because they hate the communists' authoritarian nature. They also hope—and might have even been told—that they will be rewarded for their service by the Americans.
- The Hmong militia is led by General Vang Pao. Although the CIA considers Vang Pao to be "a charismatic, passionate, and committed man, a patriot without a country," the dude becomes quite a divisive figure.
- This conflict is known as the "Quiet War" because it was not made public until many years later (10.23). Contrast that with the Vietnam War, which was on the front page of every paper.
- But don't be fooled by that catchy moniker: it's just in the international news that this war is quiet. Unbeknownst to the American masses, the Hmong are devastated by the war. Villages are destroyed wholesale. Children as young as ten are forced into military service. It's a bad scene.
- Even worse, the Hmong have lost their prized "self-sufficiency" (10.24). Now, instead of living off the land, they're forced to rely on American food drops to survive.
- And it gets worse. Despite promises to the contrary, the U.S. pulls all aid from Laos as soon as they leave Vietnam. Oh, aside from a few wealthy Hmong families, who generously get aircraft transportation provided by the CIA. Which leaves the bulk of the population to begin the long trek—by foot—to Thailand.