13-09-2009, 05:20 PM
In 1972, Charles S. Whitehouse, father of current U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D - Rhode Island), became Ambassador to Laos. His posting coincided with a precipitous decline in American aid to Hmong allies who had been fighting and dying in the proxy wars against the NVA and Pathet Lao.
Three years later, Whitehouse became Ambassador to Thailand. Eight months into that tour, Laos fell to the Communists.
Prior to the above-related service, Whitehouse had served as the State Department's Congo Desk officer.
In 1972 Whitehouse was sent to Vietnam in the capacity of Deputy Chief of Mission.
Ted Shackley was CIA station chief in Laos from 1966 -68, where he ran Hmong operations; he went on to serve as CIA station chief in Viet Nam.
From the "Historical Oddities" file: Ambassador Whitehouse officiated at the wedding of Tony Posephny and his Hmong bride.
Three years later, Whitehouse became Ambassador to Thailand. Eight months into that tour, Laos fell to the Communists.
Prior to the above-related service, Whitehouse had served as the State Department's Congo Desk officer.
In 1972 Whitehouse was sent to Vietnam in the capacity of Deputy Chief of Mission.
Ted Shackley was CIA station chief in Laos from 1966 -68, where he ran Hmong operations; he went on to serve as CIA station chief in Viet Nam.
From the "Historical Oddities" file: Ambassador Whitehouse officiated at the wedding of Tony Posephny and his Hmong bride.
Charles Drago
Co-Founder, Deep Politics Forum
If an individual, through either his own volition or events over which he had no control, found himself taking up residence in a country undefined by flags or physical borders, he could be assured of one immediate and abiding consequence: He was on his own, and solitude and loneliness would probably be his companions unto the grave.
-- James Lee Burke, Rain Gods
You can't blame the innocent, they are always guiltless. All you can do is control them or eliminate them. Innocence is a kind of insanity.
-- Graham Greene
Co-Founder, Deep Politics Forum
If an individual, through either his own volition or events over which he had no control, found himself taking up residence in a country undefined by flags or physical borders, he could be assured of one immediate and abiding consequence: He was on his own, and solitude and loneliness would probably be his companions unto the grave.
-- James Lee Burke, Rain Gods
You can't blame the innocent, they are always guiltless. All you can do is control them or eliminate them. Innocence is a kind of insanity.
-- Graham Greene