The Phoenix Program: America's Use of Terror in Vietnam

De: Douglas Valentine

Narrado por: Bob Souer

A shocking expos of the covert CIA program of widespread torture, rape, and murder of civilians during America’s war in Vietnam, with a new introduction by the author. In the darkest days of the Vietnam War, America’s Central Intelligence Agency secretly initiated a sweeping program of kidnap, torture, and assassination devised to destabilize the infrastructure of the National Liberation Front (NLF) of South Vietnam, commonly known as the “Viet Cong.” The victims of the Phoenix Program were Vietnamese civilians, male and female, suspected of harboring information about the enemy - though many on the blacklist were targeted by corrupt South Vietnamese security personnel looking to extort money or remove a rival. Between 1965 and 1972, more than eighty thousand noncombatants were “neutralized,” as men and women alike were subjected to extended imprisonment without trial, horrific torture, brutal rape, and in many cases execution, all under the watchful eyes of US government agencies.Based on extensive research and in-depth interviews with former participants and observers, Douglas Valentine’s startling expos blows the lid off of what was possibly the bloodiest and most inhumane covert operation in the CIA’s history.The ebook edition includes “The Phoenix Has Landed,” a new introduction that addresses the “Phoenix-style network” that constitutes America’s internal security apparatus today. Residents on American soil are routinely targeted under the guise of protecting us from terrorism - which is why, more than ever, people need to understand what Phoenix is all about.

©1990 Douglas Valentine (P)2014 Audible Inc.

The CIA has it's hand's in country shaping!

WoW, The more I learn about our government and the CIA. The more I understand our current situation. GREAT BOOK

Detail. Some people don’t like it but it’s absolutely necessary to get the point across.

Too predictable regarding criticism of the overall policy objective given the difficulty of operating in Vietnam nam. The real problem started with Woodrow Wilson’s short sighted and rude treatment of Ho at the end of WWI.

Skeptical

I had to force myself through this book! One of the sources the author references often? The supposed SEAL who killed the little girls with a knife. Is a full on POS poser. This book has a lot of good knowledge that I believe is true. But a lot of stories from supposed sources? I feel it shows how information leaks from a secret organization into the periphery of said organization to people who leak it and sensationalize it with their presence. Interesting how this program is the root of the Patriot Act. Also how all this was stolen from the communists, as they are some phenomenal organizers who love to steal others freedoms.

Plausible deniability?

Only the House of Yahweh can teach you how to win the hearts and minds.

HOLY CRAP!!!! The truth needs to come out!

Who do you believe?!?!?
There is so much talk today about real vs fake news. This book exposes the dirty truth of the US' involvement in Southeast Asia and it isn't pretty.
Being born in the 60s, I have had to take my understanding from books, old news reports, etc. I remember seeing one program where Robert McNamara admitted that he knew the Vietnam war was wrong and failure. I felt like he should have been tried for treason and imprisoned for prosecuting a war he knew was wrong!
Walter Cronkite and the news lied to us and especially about the Tet Offensive. Most trusted man my eye.

Being an audio book, it can be more difficult to research the references and information used in the book.
Douglas Valentine seems to have done his homework here, citing many names and places and interviews of the actual participants and policy makers.
If what is presented here is true, I am shocked and disturbed by the vast number of US and Vietnamese who lost their lives and their loved ones for nothing.
I understand the politics and fear of the spread of communism. It was and still is a real threat to the free world. Look at North Korea and the human misery of millions under the yoke of Kim Jong Un. Look at the rising power of Russia (again) or the Chinese threats against Japan and Taiwan.
However, the tactics, policies and actions described in this book demonstrate several things to my mind:
1- The thuggery and murder of evil or weak charactered men when given the power over someone else's life with no consequences. This is clear on all sides of the conflict herein.
2- Good men trying to protect and serve can be used a pawns and their lives become fodder.
3- Good and innocent people loose their liberty, property and lives when evil people strive to get gain and power by stepping on the dead.

This is not a short book. It should be read, pondered and understood.