In historic visit, Clinton reaches out to Laos

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

In historic visit, Clinton reaches out to Laos
By BRADLEY KLAPPER
Associated Press
Published: Wednesday, July 11, 2012 at 3:15 a.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, July 11, 2012 at 1:46 a.m.

Hillary Rodham Clinton became the first U.S. secretary of state to visit Laos in more than five decades, gauging whether a place the United States pummeled with bombs during the Vietnam War could evolve into a new foothold of American influence in Asia.

Clinton met with the communist government's prime minister and foreign minister in the capital of Vientiane on Wednesday, part of a weeklong diplomatic tour of Southeast Asia. The goal is to bolster America's standing in some of the fastest growing markets of the world, and counter China's expanding economic, diplomatic and military dominance of the region.

Thirty-seven years since the end of America's long war in Indochina, Laos is the latest test case of the Obama administration's efforts to "pivot" U.S. foreign policy away from the long wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. It follows a long period of estrangement between Washington and a once hostile Cold War-era foe, and comes as U.S. relations warm with countries such as Myanmar and Vietnam.

In her meetings, Clinton was to discuss environmental concerns over a proposed dam on the Mekong River, investment opportunities and joint efforts to clean up the tens of millions of unexploded bombs the U.S. dropped on Laos during the Vietnam War. Greater American support programs in these fields will be included in a multimillion-dollar initiative for Southeast Asia to be announced later this week.


Read more: http://www.goupstate.com/article/20120711/API/1207110517

[dipsydoodle]

1. How to buy friends and influence people

.

[Kolesar]

3. joint efforts to clean up the tens of millions of unexploded bombs the U.S. dropped on Laos...

...during the Vietnam War

[awoke_in_2003]

5. Or how to find...

the next cheap working force.

[Suji to Seoul]

2. Maybe this time we don't do with the barrel of a gun? Our government will attempt to subjugate them

using the green of a bill.

I do not trust anything our government does here in Asia. Not one thing.

[Kolesar]

4. Did you read the article?

I grew up during the Vietnam War. I find these stories to be fascinating.

[Uncle Joe]

6. I believe this to be a good diplomatic move and long overdue.

Thanks for the thread, Judi Lynn.

[former9thward]

7. I have had the opportunity to visit Laos a couple times.

A very beautiful country. I was there on election day in November, 1992. I contacted the embassy to find out the results of the election (there was no access to radio or tv then) and was told the ambassador had left the country. The ambassador was a Bush I appointee so I knew Clinton had won the election.