theblether

The Communist Party of Thailand, 1960's and 1970's resistance......

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communism_in_Thailand

As mentioned by member Chiang Mai earlier, the Phetchabun Mountains were a Communist stronghold, I was down that way the other week and it's quite spectacular. It would have been a nightmare to attack by land......

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phetchabun_mountains

I'm led to believe that the insurgency started in 1965 and lasted through until 1984, long after the Vietnam War ended. When you look at the terrain you can see why, I'll look further into this but again if anyone has any more details please post them.

Photos of Thailand taken by US military members during the Vietnam War

http://www.pbase.com/mrchevy/mil

Further information on the Royal Thai Army Volunteer Force in Vietnam including images......

http://www.nationreligionking.com/defense/international/rtavf/

By 1969 Thailand had 12,000 soldiers in Vietnam.......

http://www.vietnamwar.net/Thailand.htm

How long is the rain expected to last?

How long has Long Tan been in Thailand?

I was responding to a specific request for information on that subject. That member now has an extensive video to watch.

England are in trouble, 287 behind and by the looks of it they are certainties to be back in tonight looking at a 350+ total.

Bring on the rain I say.

Oh and while I was posting Smith get's himself run out.

What a game.

.

I note Ukraine is more popular than Thailand.

Somebody should pick up the helmet and see if the rider is below it.

1st Cavalry Division, 173rd Airborne, 1966

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_o6SncnDJU

Bangkok, 1971.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NreF3gAzcg&list=PLFE7FA92EF3B58553

1971 The Kings Residence......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7L2VP340mA&list=PLFE7FA92EF3B58553

The Battle of Long Tan, long version, narrated......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gUSq7pxux4

Home movie including shots of Thailand.......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfzuD2nzLIk

The topic is about Thailand and the Vietnam War, I am not prepared to go into a debate about the rights and wrongs of the war. However to not include some background in regards to the politicians that pursued the war would be wrong.

I regard that earlier clip of RFK talking to LBJ as particularly important, to know that RFK was saying that the war could not be won militarily in 1964 is relevant. To hear LBJ list his opponents equally so. It was politicians that ordered their men into war.

There are parts of the previous video I just posted ( The Asian Odyssey ) that I found to be very poignant and quite frankly emotional. LBJ is the keystone to that video and the decision to go to war, he cannot be ignored. I for one have already found this thread to be highly educational, and before it's finished I expect it to be more so.

It would be impossible to address this subject without treading on someone's toes, I'm aware of that already. I apologize in advance for doing so, however the topic will cover many facets of that period, and over the course of many years. The politics have played a relatively minor role so far and I expect that to continue.

President Johnston on his Asian Odyssey in 1966.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6frLmliG0s

Timings, 2.00 Samoa, 11.00 Australia, 19.20 The Manila Conference, The Summit includes Thailand, 26.55 Vietnam, 29.00 Thailand, ( very interesting ) 36.20 Malaysia,

42.20 South Korea, 44.14 LBJ speech, "To an American, the free soil of Korea is hallowed ground"

I take your point SP, I was responding to KevinB and his question about whether it was worth it. The communist expansion was a real and present danger back in those days, and it wouldn't have been an impossibility that they would have dominated SE Asia, in fact possibly captured Thailand, if it hadn't been for the marker put down by the US and allies in Vietnam.

Something of a dilemma here.

I look at what they charge for ticket prices and I have a hard time figuring out how they can afford to maintain the tracks and equipment.

If they jack up the ticket prices, it's a hardship on the many folks scraping by on 300 baht a day, who depend on the trains to get around. Even worse, it would push them onto the buses, and they're scarier than a worn out train track.

If they leave the ticket prices for Thais the same and jack up the prices for tourists, the "double pricing" rants begin.

If we want Developed World safety standards, we need to be prepared to pay Developed World prices. Or we can enjoy the cheap transport and take the 0.00001% chance of getting hurt on any given trip. (I may have left out a few zeroes) The locals seem to have voted with their feet for the cheap transport.

I am trying to figure out who uses the rail network.

People on 300 bht a day very rare use the rail, and most in rural areas have Near NEVER been on a train. outside of BKK apart from major city links rail is of no use as it stands.

Vast amount of rural areas are not served. It is town and inter city buses that do the business.

If you look at Udon-BKK a bus every half hour or more if you change at some places more options.

So Nong Khai to BKK how many trains in a day ???? and not normally local people travel--they do not have the time OR money anyway.

Uni students MAY use the train --but go to your local city bus stations your sure to find out.

It's chicken and egg, people don't use the trains as they are notoriously slow and unreliable.

I can't see Australia failing to get a lead of 350 but a couple of early wickets by England could knock the heart out of them.

This is why I love test cricket, we just don't know what's going to happen.......and to think people say cricket is boring

I reckon 350 for safeties sake, that's well within their capabilities if they flash the bat. They need England back in to bat this evening though, to try and get some pressure on them.

If they leave England chasing 300 in 4 sessions they're asking for it. England can charge on knowing that they still have a lead in the series.

Yes, was it really all worth it? I think it was, what would have happened if the communists had been allowed to pour unopposed throughout SE Asia? We would have been facing a gigantic communist bloc in the East, along with the communist bloc in Europe. I don't think that would have been a positive outcome.

I also remember the proxy war fought in Africa as well, at that time Africa was a relatively forgotten continent, an afterthought, as we Europeans were too busy looking over the Iron Curtain and the US was engaged in Asia.

A lot of this can be traced back to the Yalta Conference in February 45, where Roosevelt made a major mistake by giving Stalin any credence. To be fair to Roosevelt he was at the end of his days, and we can't second guess his health status or state of mind. I'd like to think that a fully fit Roosevelt would have seen through these lies and deceits and stood firm. Here's a photo for you.

Soon Roosevelt would be dead, Churchill sidelined, and Stalin would run riot. This conference was a pivotal point in 20th Century history.

Yup......I think it's game on. Again taking weather out of it, if Oz can get a full afternoon session out of it and build a lead of 350, they could torture the life out of the England openers before close.

Interesting game.

338-8 with Broad out.

If Australia can get England out before lunch, this match is still on. ( subject to weather ).

Would any of the TS supporters here like to give an explanation in their view as to what happened in 2006.

If you have any explanation as to why TS acted in the way he did, or any justification for his actions, I would like to read it.