AirAmrica, I agree the living standard of Lao people should be better, and the current Lao Govt. should have accepted and adopted the change long time ago. I'm also aware of their agreements with China and other; in which I'm concern that the China will take advantage of Laos limited resource and/or destroy her enviroment as they have done in many poor countries. Even though, current Lao leaders have made a great steps toward better Laos, but I'm concern that they do not have sufficent skill and experience and knowlegde to negociate in the world economy stage nor will they not fail from being taking advantage of from development countries. The cost of cleaning/fixing up after china enviroment damage toward Laos will be more than benefit the Laos will get. I hope they have wisdom to learn, and conduct some research, and enact some kind of law to protect Laos from long term damage of short term gain. I understand that currently UN is trying to help Lao Government create a rule of law that acceptable to be trading in the world economy; and Lao Government is also inviting educated Laotian to come back Laos to help they make a progress (from my opinion, in order to attract qualify and quality educated Laotian from the free world, Lao policy and incentive must be adjust and change, if not they are only going to get those angry and resentful generalation of Mr. Vang). In sum, supporting a guerrilla fighting war have not and will not bring much progress to Laos; AirAmerica, I hope you have a forgiveness heart and capable to accept a lost of 30 years ago. Would you agree and accept that in your life time, Laos would not get to be free as the U.S. or have a same politic system here or become they way you want it, but this does not mean is off limit to the next Laotian generation. You appear wanting what is good for Lao/Hmoung people and/or want to go back, I hope you can go back and live there, and participate in the progress of Lao; that Lao leaders are attempting to do. Respectfull submit.

AirAmerican, there are also many allegations (emphasize) of him misconduct and/or take advantage of older Hmoung generation here, too. I personally have low tolerant or have no respect to people who are abusing a trust of weaker people (if the allegation is truth). I began to follow the news and blog, because my heart is breaking to see video of living condition of Hmong in Jungle, I respectfully disagree with your philosophy/expression here that we (Lao/Hmoung) in U.S. should support them to continue those life so they can continue to free Laos from current Lao Govement (I’d agree to some degree if that was in 1980). Again, I do not care nor agree with current Lao Government.

AirAmerican, Since I saw your blog here, I further a search on Mr. Vang and records of Laos History. Mr. Pao Vang was borned in China, in 1931; from this fact he is naturalized Hmong/Lao citizen; I assumed he lives in the U.S. longer than Laos. If base on the U.S. Law, he would be disqualified to run Laos? Even though, I respect your past history with him, but I would not go as far as you to claim that he is Lao’s hero and was only person responsible to get us get into the U.S. nor was he not taken advantage of Laos during time he was in power there ---this is basing on the fact and record. For more addition record/fact regard VP can be found from the CIA webpage or title search as: CIA Air Operations in Laos, 1955-1974; Supporting the "Secret War" by William M. Leary; or link followings: https://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-intelligence/csi-publications/csi-studies/studies/winter99-00/art7.html http://www.laoveterans.com/custom2.html. The record/fact about AirAmerican and record of Laos history also in there.

AirAmerica, with all your respect, you appear to be mistrustful, paranoids, and miss my point. You attack people who have a different life path/experience than your or expressed a diff. opinion. Moreover, your point of supporting or misleading a poor/uneducating Hmoung in the jungle to fight pointless war in last 20-years clearly show that neither you seek peace, democracy, nor progress for Laos, nor you capable to see and want the Hmoung in the jungle or Lao people in Laos to have normal life like you. Your expressions appear to show that You, Mr. Vang, and his associates are more interested of seeking to reclaim his old glory day. There’re many different ways to seek a change for Laos than war; our history or every Laotian’s journey (here) should teach us those lesson. I do not want to see Laos as the Afghanistan past and present that ran by Taliban and/or uneducated/selfish people, and/or a corruption people as today news have shown that when they got opportunity for change and develop, they could not able to do or take advance of the opportunity that seldom come by. The changing in Laos politic appears to be more very personal to you than to me (I’m only interested to see Laos has educated citizens and has an economy that able to compete in the world economy), I hope you’ll take a diff. step in change than a war/fighting; so Lao progress can began; and please help and incur the Hmong in the jungle to seek a normalcy life. Respectfully submitted.

I’m naturalized U.S. Citizen. My late father was in the Royal Laotain Army, even though he was not Hmong. FYI, I finished high school here and put myself through college, and I did that all on my own. Since I got here, I’m not living in Lao community, but I’m updated/educated on the fact about Laos and my heritage. Recently, I googled matter relating to Laos, when family members inviting me to go back visiting Laos; that how I came about finding out Mr. Vang’s arresting news.