6: The Phoenix Program (Vietnam)

This one is big, folks. I apologize for the delay, life has been giving me wonderful surprises, and I'm still smiling.

In this episode of "Imperialism and the Fringe," I dive deep into one of the most controversial and haunting operations of what we did in Vietnam: The Phoenix Program. 

Conceived as a counterinsurgency initiative, this covert program aimed to dismantle the Viet Cong infrastructure (basically anyone) through a network of intelligence gathering, infiltration, and targeted eliminations. However, the methods employed and the brutal outcomes reveal a darker side of warfare. The reality is, that the United States backed a small pro-American oligarchy against a highly organized majority that had been in place for decades, with the hopes of eradicating an entire ideology from a foreign nation. This was an economic conflict that left a terrible path of destruction in its wake.

Join me as I unravel the details of how the United States executed this program, often blurring the lines between combat and atrocity. From indiscriminate arrests and torture to the extrajudicial killings of suspected Viet Cong operatives, I shed light on the moral and ethical dilemma that engulfed the participants and victims alike. Through firsthand accounts and historical analysis, I explore the profound impact and lasting legacy of the Phoenix Program, offering a sobering reflection on the human cost of violence. 

Tune in to learn more about the Vietnam conflict, and the truths behind this infamous operation that would set the precedent for many destabilization programs moving forward around the world, and on our back doorstep.

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Sources:

The Phoenix Program, Douglas Valentine, 1990

The Devil’s Chessboard, David Talbot, 2015