So Much to Lose: John F. Kennedy and American Policy in Laos

Contents

contents Maps vii List of abbreviations xi introduction: We’ve Got So Much to Lose if That Thing Goes Sour 1 1. We cannot enforce What We Would Like 15 2. a Wide Measure of discretion 37 3. Less Precise Language Than We desire 53 4. a disagreeable, hard, and dangerous Fact 73 5. a Severe Loss of Face 91 6. a Very hazardous course 111 7. a colossal Booby trap 131 8. We do not have the Power of decision 151 9. tenuous at Best 173 10. a Piece of War 197 11. We’re Going to have to take Some action 217 epilogue: an awful Mess 239 acknowledgments 251 Appendixes 1. declaration on the neutrality of Laos, July 23, 1962 253 2. Protocol to the declaration on the neutrality of Laos, July 23, 1962 259 3. Memorandum for the President, June 17, 1963 267 notes 277 Bibliography 311 index 323 Illustrations follow page 172 ...