Ashes to Ashes

This is an important read for those interested in understanding current world disorder, and the future of Low Intensity Conflict. An examination of the American experience in the Vietnam War, probably provides some of the best examples of the criteria necessary for success in Low Intensity Conflict, including but not limited to guerilla war and insurgency. Andradé identifies in Ashes to Ashes the criteria as articulation, accessibility, and accountability. Articulation of specific goals and objectives must be clear and reasonable. Accessibility of the officials to the general populace must be systematic. The accountability of every member in an operation must be held to the highest standards. Finally, the combination of the above must achieve a synergistic effect; whereby, the ability to accomplish the mission is accompanied with the will and desire to sustain the effort for whatever duration it takes! The Phoenix program was a response to a war whose objectives were never clearly stated, but were implemented incrementally, and largely ignored such basic elements as public support, a willing and competent host, and consideration of past experiences evaluated and analyzed by its intelligence community. The Vietnam syndrome is not dissimilar from either the Israeli/Palestine conflict, or current US/Iraqi war. The ultimate question is whether a democratic society burdened with occupation of another unwilling people can, despite its best intentions, sustain the rule of law long enough to achieve the peace.

If you want to read a fair and accurrate description of Vietnam's Phoenix Program and its scope and activities then this is the book for you.Well researched and well written it is one of the few books that portrays Phoenix for what it was, a systematic program to counter the VC insurgency. Most books on Phoenix are content to waste space plathering on about mythic conspiracies by the CIA to assassinate and torture every living being within the country of Vietnam. Andrade's book tears away these myths and explains in full detail the situations leading up to the creation of Phoenix, its inception and planned scope, how it operated, and attempts to determine its overall effectiveness on the course of the war.If you are looking for an anti-US government, or CIA/military/Presidential/feemasons/illuminati conspiracy book then don't even bother. But if you are genuinely interested in knowing more about the truth of the Phoenix program, this book is a MUST. An additional item is that in reading this book you may be able to deduce for yourself how such a program could help our current efforts in Iraq.

A fine work that accurately and truthfully talks about and displays the truth about the Phoenix Program. The author obviously spent a great deal of time on thorough research with operatives who were actually there. This book shows Phoenix for what it was, an effective grass roots campaign to root out and capture the Viet Cong Infrastructure.Most other books I've seen on the subject have largely been the delusional fantasies of wannabes who were never there. The types who clog VA centers claiming PTSD for top secret commando missions they were never on. This book only interviewed real Phoenix operatives.Hats off to Mr. Andrade. Job well done.