Pentagon campaign to recruit Vietnam as military ally against China exposed delusions of US war strategy

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After convincing itself Vietnam would grant it access for missile bases against China, the Pentagon got a hard dose of reality. Courtesy of The Grayzone When the Pentagon began gearing up for a future war with China in 2018, Defense Department officials quickly realized that they needed access to Vietnamese territory for troops armed with … Continue reading Pentagon campaign to recruit Vietnam as military ally against China exposed delusions of US war strategy

Requiem for the ‘American Century’

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It's not often that I simply post an article but this essay by Andrew J. Bacevich, which originally appeared on TomDispatch, is worth reading. 9/11 tribute. (David Z from Pixabay) Only when Americans openly acknowledge their imperial transgressions will genuine repentance become possible. And only with repentance will avoiding further occasions to sin become a habit. … Continue reading Requiem for the ‘American Century’

“‘Lady Gaga of Vietnam’ finds a home in Pittsburgh”

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Image from Mai Khoi's Facebook Page This article, which appeared in one of my Viet Nam-related Google Alerts, jumped off my screen. It was bittersweet news, a loss for Viet Nam and a gain for the USA. As an artist, Mai Khoi will have to find new sources of inspiration and material. I have no … Continue reading “‘Lady Gaga of Vietnam’ finds a home in Pittsburgh”

Phạm Lực: Painter Par Excellence

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Mr. Lực was kind enough to sketch me during a fall 2018 visit to his studio. (Cảm ơn đồng chí!) Phạm Lực, who lives in Hanoi, is one of my all-time favorite painters not just in Viet Nam but in any country and any period of history. He is a brilliant artist, an adjective I … Continue reading Phạm Lực: Painter Par Excellence

“US teacher fired from Da Nang international school for possessing child porn”

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OK, the clickbait title is a bit misleading but the first two paragraphs clarify what happened: An American teacher at a Da Nang international school was fired after it was found he had been arrested in the U.S. for possessing child porn. The unnamed physical education teacher at Singapore International School, 52, was arrested by … Continue reading “US teacher fired from Da Nang international school for possessing child porn”