Kevin Brooks wrote:

I am not sure your 20/20 hindsight is all that accurate in this case in
terms of the observation that the spread was "never going to be greater than
Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam".

I base this on the fact that, at least in SE Asia, it appears these different
communist elements not only were not capable of cooperating, but in fact
conducted operations against one and other. Vietnam invaded Cambodia in '79, in
response China invade Vietnam. Although the Chinese military action was short
lived (1 month?), Vietnam and China continued to have border skirmishes as late
as the late 80s. China's relatonship with Cambodia has been hot & cold as well.
Really, the only two communist nations in the region to get along were Vietnam
and Laos. Seems to me you need strong alliances to spread any ideology and I'm
not sure these SE Asian nations had that ability.


BUFDRVR

"Stay on the bomb run boys, I'm gonna get those bomb doors open if it harelips
everyone on Bear Creek"