The Erawan War

Volume 2: The CIA Paramilitary Campaign in Laos, 1969-1974

by Ken Conboy

Series: Asia@War

Imprint: Helion and Company

78 Pages, 8.25 x 11.7 in, 72 b/w photos, 65 color photos, 3 color profiles

Paperback
9781915070609
February 2022
Temporarily out of stock. Ships in 2-3 weeks.

$29.95

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During a closed-door meeting of Washington policy makers on 31 March 1971, a senior CIA officer informed National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger that the agency was controlling up to 8 divisions of indigenous troops in Laos. “When the CIA reaches the point of having the largest army in Southeast Asia,” retorted Kissinger, “we better review the program!”

The Erawan War, Volume 2 details how the CIA operation in Laos reached that point, becoming its largest paramilitary operation of the Cold War. With photos and maps, it covers the wide range of CIA-supported units in Laos, from guerrilla regiments that went toe-to-toe with the North Vietnamese army in pitched campaigns, to top-secret commandos that crossed borders to wage clandestine sabotage attacks.

Kenneth Conboy was South East Asian policy analyst and deputy director of the Asian Studies Centre in Washington D.C., 1986–1992. Since then he has held roles in risk management companies in Indonesia, and he currently serves as Risk Management Advisory Country Manager in Indonesia. He has written a number of books about war in Asia, as well as several articles.

"Conboy’s book is a valuable resource for readers seeking to deepen their knowledge of military operations in Laos during the Vietnam War and those who wish to gain insights into special operations and clandestine warfare in general." ~Vietnam Magazine

"This Erawan War history is very informative about a conflict little known to the American public, yet one of America’s longest running Cold War engagements." ~Air & Space Power History

"...a necessary read in order to truly understand the immensity of America’s involvement in the Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War." ~The VVA Veteran

"Highly recommended." ~AMPS Indianapolis

“Ken Conboy has provided the Asia@War series a concise, well researched and easy to read book to help fill in gaps in the little-known covert wars in Asia... These wars and operations were just as important as the main [Vietnam War] effort, and it is good to see these dedicated people get their due time in the limelight.” ~IPMS/USA