Small Wars Journal

Laos

“Malice in Blunderland” - J. P. Cross and the Royal Lao Army - 1972-75 SWJED Fri, 07/12/2019 - 7:13am
There are many reasons (political/diplomatic/financial) why Laos was taken over by the Pathet Lao in 1975. Perhaps the overriding reason was the state of its military. The Royal Lao Army was one of the most ineffective forces of modern times. Despite being funded by a near inexhaustible American bankroll, it was a very poor shadow of its model, the ARVN.