Laos: Barack Obama regrets 'biggest bombing in history'

[Xiaoshu]

 

The bombs, as one Laotian recalled, "fell like rain", US President Barack Obama said on a visit to Laos, a first for any sitting US president.

 

"Given our history here, I believe that the United States has a moral obligation to help Laos heal," he said.

He referred to America's secret and devastating bombing of Laos during the Vietnam War in the 1960s and 70s.

 

Some $90m (£68m) will be spent over three years for the removal of cluster bombs and other unexploded ordnance.

 

That compares to $100m spent in the last 20 years.

 

Mr Obama did not offer an apology for the bombing.

 

 

How many bombs were dropped?

 

In his comments on Tuesday, President Obama described Laos as the most heavily bombed nation in history. Eight bombs a minute were dropped on average during the Vietnam war between 1964 and 1973 - more than the amount used during the whole of World War Two.

 

The US flew 580,344 bombing missions over Laos, dropping 260m bombs - equating to 2m tons of ordnance, with many targets in the south and north struck time and again as part of efforts to isolate Communist North Vietnamese forces.

 

Most devices dropped were anti-personnel cluster bombs. An estimated 30% of these munitions did not detonate.

 

Ten of the 18 Laotian provinces have been described as "severely contaminated" by unexploded ordnance (UXO).

 

Mine-clearing agencies estimate that about 288m cluster munitions and about 75m unexploded bombs were left across Laos after the war ended.

 

Why are cluster bombs so reviled?

 

 

Cluster bombs scatter explosives across a wide area and often fail to detonate on impact.

They pose a significant threat to civilians because of both their impact at the time of use and their deadly legacy.

 

Launched from the ground or dropped from the air, cluster munitions consist of containers that open and disperse sub-munitions indiscriminately over a wide area.

 

Many explosive sub-munitions, also known as bomblets, fail to detonate as designed, becoming landmines that kill and maim indiscriminately.

 

They are difficult to locate and remove, posing a danger to civilians long after conflicts end.

 

Children are particularly at risk, as they can be attracted to the bombs' toy-like appearance.

 

The Convention on Cluster Munitions bans the stockpiling, use and transfer of virtually all existing cluster bombs, and also provides for the clearing up of unexploded munitions.

 

It has been adopted by 108 states, but not the US which, according to some estimates, spent as much on clean-up efforts in Laos between 1995 and 2013 as it spent in three days of bombing during the war.

 

Laos is likely to ask for an extension to its commitment to get rid of UXO when Convention member states next meet in August 2020.

 

How many people have been killed by UXO?

 

 

The number of casualties from air-dropped explosive devices - mostly cluster munitions - in Laos since 1964 is estimated by the Landmine and Clustering Munition Monitor to be around 50,000 people. Of these about 29,000 people were killed and 21,000 injured. The overwhelming majority were civilians.

 

Today only a handful of people are killed and injured, the figures show.

 

But the threat posed by UXO stops villagers from getting to their farms and renders vast tracts of agricultural land useless until they have been cleared of munitions.

 

Will more US money address the problem?

 

 

The president's announcement has been widely welcomed by aid agencies working to address the UXO problem in Laos, which include the Halo Trust, the Mines Advisory Group, Norwegian People's Aid, UXO Laos and Handicap International.

 

"Before the president's announcement I feared that the UXO operation in Laos would take hundreds of years," Mines Advisory Group country director Simon Rea told the BBC from Vientiane. "Now I am optimistic this can be reduced to decades."

 

 

"The president's announcement is extremely good news for us and for poor families in rural areas who lives are still blighted by UXO.

 

Likewise Halo Trust CEO James Cowan said the president's announcement will have a profound effect on the people of Laos.

 

"It will help them live and farm in safety on their land, as well as creating opportunities for development and infrastructure," he said.

 

"Explosive remnants of war have blighted their lives for far too long. It is a momentous step in Laos's journey towards freedom from the deadly debris of war."

What role can surveying play?

 

"Today more than ever we are getting a much better grasp of the scale of the contamination," Norwegian People's Aid (NPA) Senior Advocacy and Research Advisor Lucy Pinches told the BBC.

 

"We are using survey triangulation data to place contaminated land into blocks or boxes which can then be systematically cleared of mines."

 

Aid agencies have also gained access to Pentagon bombing records so that they can identify which areas of land - mostly the Ho Chi Minh Trail in the south and the Lao communist party headquarters in the north - were bombed and likely to contain unexploded bombs.

 

"More partnerships in the last couple of years among international clearance NGOs has greatly helped in pushing this process forward," NPA Laos Country Director Jonas Zachrisson told the BBC.

 

But at the same time he cautions that "much of the country remains unsurveyed with limited data regarding the extent, scope and nature of the problem".

 

How are Laos-US relations today?

 

President Obama is the first US president to visit Laos and has adopted a noticeably conciliatory approach towards his hosts. He said that the US bombings had destroyed "villages and entire valleys, killing countless civilians".

 

His approach has been welcomed by Laotian President Bounnhang Vorachit as a way of enhancing mutual trust between the two countries after the devastating war.

 

The president in return has promised the government will step up its efforts to locate and return US servicemen missing in the war.

 

Mr Obama has made improving relations with Southeast Asian nations a foreign policy priority as Chinese influence has grown in the region.

 

Communist Laos' economy is heavily dependent on Chinese investment.

 

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-37286520

[Xiaoshu]

The same thing happens to Cambodia. During USA-Vietnam war, millions of bombs drop along the border. Since Laos and Cambodia have border with Vietnam, we were became victim without any fault. Yet USA has never made any apology to us. They only criticize our government when we are tending to China. 

 

Of course our economies heavily depend on China so don't be so surprised if we are on China side. USA, karma will visit you soon.

 

 

my grandfather's house was destroyed by the bomb and my mother's older brother was killed at that time. This is what the world top democratic country do to us innocent/weak/poor people

 

[hyperpanda_0130]

This makes me really sad. One of my best friends is from Laos, I didn't know this. Thanks for posting. 

 

 

The same thing happens to Cambodia. During USA-Vietnam war, millions of bombs drop along the border. Since Laos and Cambodia have border with Vietnam, we were became victim without any fault. Yet USA has never made any apology to us. They only criticize our government when we are tending to China. 

 

Of course our economies heavily depend on China so don't be so surprised if we are on China side. USA, karma will visit you soon.

 

 

Spoiler

I'm sorry for your loss. As someone living in the US and parents from China, I feel so torn. I disagree with so many actions made by my home country. And I can feel it, something bad will happen here. 

[Xiaoshu]

This makes me really sad. One of my best friends is from Laos, I didn't know this. Thanks for posting. 

 

I'm sorry for your loss. As someone living in the US and parents from China, I feel so torn. I disagree with so many actions made by my home country. And I can feel it, something bad will happen here. 

Since Laos and Cambodia are weak and poor countries so what can we do? We can't even sound this matter louder. 

 

This is the war between USA and Vietnam but thousands of Laos and Cambodian were killed in that war too. I mean we are all innocent. Our farmland becomes dangerous place and can not do farm anymore. 

[Your Juan and only]

Obama for president.

 

The same thing happens to Cambodia. During USA-Vietnam war, millions of bombs drop along the border. Since Laos and Cambodia have border with Vietnam, we were became victim without any fault. Yet USA has never made any apology to us. They only criticize our government when we are tending to China.

 

Of course our economies heavily depend on China so don't be so surprised if we are on China side. USA, karma will visit you soon.

 

 

my grandfather's house was destroyed by the bomb and my mother's older brother was killed at that time. This is what the world top democratic country do to us innocent/weak/poor people

 

Pal Pot massacred its people and Vietnam were at war with Laos and Cambodia, stop acting like USA were just randomly killing, Vietnam taken over villages in Cambodia, killing the villagers while Pal Pot killed its people and Viet Cong. Wishing on karma to the USA doesn't make it any better seeing as it's people have no choice in what the government does same as what the Cambodia government did.

[Queen's Mine]

Obama for president.

 

Pal Pot massacred its people and Vietnam were at war with Laos and Cambodia, stop acting like USA were just randomly killing, Vietnam taken over villages in Cambodia, killing the villagers while Pal Pot killed its people and Viet Cong. Wishing on karma to the USA doesn't make it any better seeing as it's people have no choice in what the government does same as what the Cambodia government did.

How about middle east invasion? Syria? Iraq? Afganistan?

 

So... USA is sinless?

[Xiaoshu]

Obama for president.

 

Pal Pot massacred its people and Vietnam were at war with Laos and Cambodia, stop acting like USA were just randomly killing, Vietnam taken over villages in Cambodia, killing the villagers while Pal Pot killed its people and Viet Cong. Wishing on karma to the USA doesn't make it any better seeing as it's people have no choice in what the government does same as what the Cambodia government did.

Lol...don't act like you know it clearly. My village is far from the border and yet they still bomb here. USA has no idea how to get ride of Vietnam so just drop their bomb wherever they think Vietnamese stay. 

 

When your country do war with Vietnam and you drop millions bombs on Laos and Cambodia, yet you still think it's no problem. Putting the blame to those country...how ridiculous. 

 

Pol Pot is another thing and you don't need to bring this up. It's a revolution but your bombing. 

 

USA just never admit its fault. Plz..be careful. you bomb so many countries. That will be someday it turns to your home. 

[Your Juan and only]

How about middle east invasion? Syria? Iraq? Afganistan?

 

So... USA is sinless?

Where in there did I say the USA government was, no one is sinless in the world.

 

Lol...don't act like you know it clearly. My village is far from the border and yet they still bomb here. USA has no idea how to get ride of Vietnam so just drop their bomb wherever they think Vietnamese stay.

 

When your country do war with Vietnam and you drop millions bombs on Laos and Cambodia, yet you still think it's no problem. Putting the blame to those country...how ridiculous.

 

Pol Pot is another thing and you don't need to bring this up. It's a revolution but your bombing.

 

USA just never admit its fault. Plz..be careful. you bomb so many countries. That will be someday it turns to your home.

Where in there did I put the blame on other countries. I was stating that those countries were at war even before the USA got involved. USA does admit it faults very few do. Pol Pat isn't another thing because he was involved in the war too.

 

 

But I forgot no one here can speak about the USA unless it's anti USA, oops my bad, I forgot how much people here want US citizens dead and wish karma on them, my bad oops I forgot. I forget I can't even mention 9/11 even though it was very close to home to because Americans can't talk about their tragedies, cause everyone on OH loves to one up tragedies like Skype vs Japan, oops my bad I forgot.

[Lisi]

The same thing happens to Cambodia. During USA-Vietnam war, millions of bombs drop along the border. Since Laos and Cambodia have border with Vietnam, we were became victim without any fault. Yet USA has never made any apology to us. They only criticize our government when we are tending to China. 

 

Of course our economies heavily depend on China so don't be so surprised if we are on China side. USA, karma will visit you soon.

 

 

my grandfather's house was destroyed by the bomb and my mother's older brother was killed at that time. This is what the world top democratic country do to us innocent/weak/poor people

 

^

Karma of the Vietnam war has already hit.

Many soldiers during the war had gotten sprayed by Agent Orange among other things. Agent Orange is a very disgusting chemical that leads to many terrible side effects. I have family members that served in the war and most if not all are dead due to health complications that resulted from getting Agent Orange sprayed by them.

 

The Vietnam war during the time was heavily protested against by citizens too and many did get arrested during that time for protesting against the war. It was a war that I believe definitely disillusioned people because no one could tell who was a friend or foe among other horrors that happened during that time.

 

Additionally U.S isn't exactly the most amazing place to live.(It ain't all rainbows, candylandy and guilt-free where everyone is rich and no one is hungry) I mean look at the healthcare and education....

Then there's 9/11, the anniversary of which is tommorrow. 

And the other bombings that have occured here since the Vietnam War and before 9/11.

 

Feb. 26 1993 New York City: bomb exploded in basement garage of World Trade Center, killing 6 and injuring at least 1,040 others. 

 

April 19, 1995

Oklahoma City: car bomb exploded outside federal office building, collapsing wall and floors. 168 people were killed, including 19 children and 1 person who died in rescue effort. Over 220 buildings sustained damage. 

--Source:http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0001454.html

 

ALL countries have their problems or have been hurt by a foreign country either on or off their soil. Many countries are also guilty of doing acts towards foreign countries that have hurt them. At the same time, there are countries that do not admitt what they have done is wrong. I'm not glad about U.S government not apologizing and I'm not saying it's okay that they didn't apologize, but at least they admitt their faults. If one can at least admitt their faults they are at least on the path to eventually apologizing.

U.S took years just to apologize to Japanese that went to camps during WW2. I believe that happened in the 2000s and WW2 happened BEFORE Vietnam war. If it takes U.S that long to apologize to it's own citizens I imagine it'll unfortunately take longer to apologize to other countries. Again, still not okay with it.

 

EDITED: And by admitt I mean it's in our own history books and it is regarded as one of the many terrible actions U.S has done.

v

 

This makes me really sad. One of my best friends is from Laos, I didn't know this. Thanks for posting. 

 

I'm sorry for your loss. As someone living in the US and parents from China, I feel so torn. I disagree with so many actions made by my home country. And I can feel it, something bad will happen here.

 

 

 

Lol...don't act like you know it clearly. My village is far from the border and yet they still bomb here. USA has no idea how to get ride of Vietnam so just drop their bomb wherever they think Vietnamese stay. 

 

When your country do war with Vietnam and you drop millions bombs on Laos and Cambodia, yet you still think it's no problem. Putting the blame to those country...how ridiculous. 

 

Pol Pot is another thing and you don't need to bring this up. It's a revolution but your bombing. 

 

USA just never admit its fault. Plz..be careful. you bomb so many countries. That will be someday it turns to your home.

^

It already happened though.

 

Feb. 26 1993 New York City: bomb exploded in basement garage of World Trade Center, killing 6 and injuring at least 1,040 others. 

 

April 19, 1995

Oklahoma City: car bomb exploded outside federal office building, collapsing wall and floors. 168 people were killed, including 19 children and 1 person who died in rescue effort. Over 220 buildings sustained damage. 

--Source: http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0001454.html

 

Then there's 9/11.....

 

Where in there did I say the USA government was, no one is sinless in the world.

 

 

Where in there did I put the blame on other countries. I was stating that those countries were at war even before the USA got involved. USA does admit it faults very few do. Pol Pat isn't another thing because he was involved in the war too.

 

 

But I forgot no one here can speak about the USA unless it's anti USA, oops my bad, I forgot how much people here want US citizens dead and wish karma on them, my bad oops I forgot. I forget I can't even mention 9/11 even though it was very close to home to because Americans can't talk about their tragedies, cause everyone on OH loves to one up tragedies like Skype vs Japan, oops my bad I forgot.

That's terrible sad.

 

Many countries around the world have done things that have hurt many people. And trust me everyone, it's not just U.S that doesn't apologize for their actions. At least, U.S admitts what it has done wrong. There a place that don't admitt their faults. 

But at the same time, those countries and others have also been hurt by foreign countries.

Either on their on soil or away from their soil.

 

I dislike the whole thing of "my country had it worse than yours!"

It's like when people go "my life is worse than yours!"

It helps no one and we get nowhere trying to compete or make others feel bad about their bad positions.