pt. 1. The setting : the land and its people. Contours, cultures, and conflict -- The Lao -- The many languages and cultures of Laos -- pt. 2. The historical development of modern Laos. The Laotian conflict in perspective -- THe Tahi-Vietnamese struggle for Laos in the nineteenth century -- French colonialism in Laos, 1893-1945 -- Patrons, clients, and revolutionaries : the Lao search for independence, 1945-1954 -- Background notes on the 1954 Geneva Agreements on Laos and the Vientiane Agreements of 1956-1957 -- No place for neuralism : the Eisenhower administration and Laos -- The Nam Tha crisis : Kennedy and the new frontier on the brink -- After Geneva : subverting Laotian neutrality -- Presidential war in Laos, 1964-1970 -- pt. 3. America in Laos. Pawns and patriots : the U.S. fight for Laos -- Air America : flying the U.S. into Laos -- Opium and politics in Laos -- Living it up in Laos : Congressional testimony on United States aid to Laos in the 1950s -- The reluctant counterinsurgents : international voluntary services in Laos -- An IVS volunteer writes from Laos -- THe CIA's Laotian colony; or, An interview with Souvanna Phouma -- A liberated view of the war : American businessmen, Laos ... and beyond -- pt. 4. United States statements on Laos. President John F. Kennedy's statement on Laos, March 1961 -- "Laos and the Southeast Asian crisis" : a Congressional speech by Senator Thomas J. Dodd, May 21, 1962 -- President Richard M. Nixon's March 6, 1970, statement on U.S. policy and activity in Laos -- An interview with Dr. John A. Hannah, administrator of USAID -- pt. 5. The Pathet Lao. Life in the Pathet Lao Liberated Zone -- The birth of the Pathet Lao Army -- The Pathet Lao peace plan -- The Pathet Lao's revolutionary program : Noam Chomsky interviews Phao Phimphachanh -- The Pathet Lao and the people of Laos : Noam Chomsky interviews a Lao refugee -- Laos' role in the Indochina War : Douglas Miles interviews a member of North Vietnam's Central Committee.