Selected Hồ Chí Minh

In 1968, the Vietnamese national liberation forces launched a major assault on the United States and its allies. This is known as the Tết Offensive, and it – although militarily unsuccessful – politically broke the back of the US war. Four years before this war, General Giáp said of the US authorities, ‘They are no longer discussing whether they will lose or win, but when their defeat comes’. This was the attitude of Hồ Chí Minh, which is clear in the various speeches and writings from 1964 onward [Document 46].

That attitude defined Hồ Chí Minh’s last years. During the worst of the US bombing of the northern part of Vietnam, Hồ Chí Minh went on a tour of air defences. He was already in his late 70s. His comrades asked after his health. ‘Bring down more US aircraft,’ he said, ‘and I’ll be in the best of health.’ Hồ Chí Minh died in 1969 before his country was free, but he already knew the inevitable.

— Selected Hồ Chí Minh by Vijay Prashad

Westerners who think Palestinians speak Palestinian

Liberal Americans whine about helping Ukraine while not even being able to point out where Ukraine is on a map — now it’s wannabe antiwar Westerners lecturing the world about the moral virtues of helping Palestine while not even being able to name the language that Palestinians actually speak.

Aug 21

The Men in Dark Suits of American Government

Putin: US presidents come & go, but politics stay the same. When a person is elected, they may have some ideas. Then people with briefcases arrive, well-dressed, wearing dark suits. These people start explaining how things are done. Instantly everything changes. This happens w/ every administration.

Jun 28

Vietnamese sovereignty

‘Vietnam has shown the ability of “balancing geopolitical rivalries with an élan that has eluded other countries.”’

Apr 17

Việt Nam's lessons for Ukraine

But Vietnam didn’t go down that path. Instead, Vietnam’s leadership firmly decided on their priority – their own country’s economic interests, not the desire of any outside power to turn Vietnam into a kamikaze.