Some Reflections on the War in Laos, Anthropological and otherwise

Within the United States much of the criticism of the war has centered on the bombing and especially on the civilian casualties it causes . In Vietnam, with its denser population centers, the impact clearly has been very heavy . In Laos, however, with the Pathet Lao-controlled areas located in the mountains, none of the population centers are very large.The constant pressure of the bombing has enabled the Pathet Lao to Picture themselves as the victims of terror and the righters in a just stuggle , aided by \u27\u27the fraternal parties and peoples of North Vietnam and China as well as the world liberation movement. By contrast the Royal Laoare viewed as the lackeys of the Americans, aided by Thai mercenaries. The Pathet Lao as set forth placesstress on uniting the various peoples of Laos , including the diverse tribal groups, who compose the majority of the population in the areas which they control . Situation I the 196