A biography of General Westmoreland the commander of the American military in South Vietnam from 1964 to 1968.  The Viet Cong launch several attacks in the latter part of 1964 but for the first time, regular North Vietnamese Army regiments take to the field in South Vietnam. 

North Vietnamese torpedo boats attack an American Destroyer in the Gulf of Tonkin, the attack fails.  However it is reports of a second attack which did not take place which makes the congress pass a resolution which allow President Johnson to take what have military action he wishes to in Vietnam, it would be the legal base for the Vietnam War.

A profile of American Secretary of Defence Robert Mac Namara.  The gap between the positive view of how the war was going by General Harkins and MACV using doubtful data and that far less rosy view presented by journalists and junior Army officers who had served in South Vietnam and who witnessed the growth of the Viet Cong revolt in the countryside.

Following the murder of Diem there is political chaos in South Vietnam, there is a second coup within just two months as the South Vietnamese Army Generals struggle for power between themselves.  This leaves support for the Government of South Vietnam even weaker among the people.  President Kennedy is killed and replaced by President Johnson.

As Buddhist protests against President Diem grow in South Vietnam.  After much debate President Kennedy agrees to the demand of ambassador Henry Cabot Lodge to arrange a coup to bring down president Diem.  As a result of that coup, Diem is murdered in cold blood shot in the back of an armoured personnel carrier.

Even with the Viet Cong revolt in the south going badly for the Government.  President Diem now picks a fight with the majority Buddhist population, this leads to violent protest in the Cities of South Vietnam and monks burning themselves to death.  The American Government begins to question its support to Diem.  A biography of American ambassador Henry Cabot Lodge. 

Events in Vietnam and Laos in 1962 and the first week of 1963.  Despite the increase in American military support for the South Vietnamese Government, the Viet Cong revolt grows in scale.  This is shown in the first week of 1963, when the Viet Cong inflict a serious reserve on the South Vietnamese Army Army near the village of Ap Bac.

Event in Vietnam and Laos in 1961.  A biography of President Kennedy.  President Kennedy greatly increases the number of American military personnel from less than  thousand to over sixteen thousand by November 1963 in order to help the South Vietnamese Government to resist the Viet Cong revolt in the country.

Events in Vietnam and Laos in 1959 and 1960.  In 1959 the National Liberation Front is formed by the Communist they became commonly known as the Viet Cong with aid from North Vietnam the Communist revolt in the South becomes much more serious.  Details of events in Laos up to the end of 1960 is told.  The corruption of South Vietnamese President Diem's brother and sister in law shocks the nation.

In this first of twenty episodes dealing with Vietnam between 1955 to 1965.  I look at the history of South Vietnam up to 1958 and its leader President Diem, for a short the country seemed stable but the underlying problems within Diem regime was clearly there.  Lack of land reforms, corruption and a Government that favoured the minority Catholic community.

Season six of this podcast season begin on Saturday September 4th.  It will deal with the military and political events in Vietnam and Laos between 1955 and 1965.  From the end of the First Indochina War to intervention of American ground in 1965.

This episode deals with the Civil War in North Yemen and the final years of Nasser's rule in Egypt and the two subjects are highly interconnected because seventy thousand Egyptian troops would sent to the country to fight an unwinnable guerrilla war against the Royalist forces.  Nasser would die in 1970 his reputation much lower than it had been ten years earlier.

This episode deals with the Civil War in the Congo between 1960 and 1965 following independence from Belgium.  It became a proxy war of the cold war with the United States and the Soviet Union supporting different political factions in the Congo.  A biography of Mobutu who would become the dictator of the Congo for over thirty years from 1965.

The British Army fought three guerrilla wars in the middle eastern region.  In Cyprus the British Army was involved in a guerrilla war against EOKA who fought for your union between Cyprus and Greece.  A biography of Sir John Harding the Government of Cyprus.  The British Army always fought in wars in Oman and Aden.

Nasser reaps the rewards from the Suez Crisis.  British and French power in the middle east declines.  A biography of the new British Prime Minster Harold Macmillan.  The end of the British Empire.  The distrust between the French and British Government after the Suez Crisis.  The American military involvement in the Lebanon in 1958.

After just two days of fighting, the British Prime Sir Anthony Eden orders a cease fire, this would be followed by a humiliation withdraw from Port Said by British and French Forces.  Why, well the American Government created a run on the pound which caused Eden to panic.  United Nations Peace keepers are sent to region, this is proposed by Canadian Foreign Minister Lester Pearson, his biography is given. 

British and French para-troops are landed around Port Said at the northern end of the Suez Canal.  Landings by a Royal Marine Brigade are brought forward to the next day, helicopters are used for the first time in a seaborne invasion. the Egyptians put up a firm resistance at several locations.  A cease fire is called for by British Prime Minister Sir Anthony Eden. 

The Royal Air Force and the French Air Force strike at the Egyptian military quickly destroying the Egyptian Air Force as an effective military force, helping the Israeli military in their campaign in the Sinai as well as preparing for the Anglo - French invasion of Port Said.  A biography of General Stockwell the commander of the Anglo - French military invasion force.

As had been agreed between the Israeli, British and French Government, the Israeli Army invades the Sinai, dropping para-troops near to the Suez Canal.  The Israeli Army defeats the Egyptian Army and captures the Sinai and Gaza.  This invasion allows the British and French Government to invade the Suez Canal.

British public opinion is heavily divided by the decision of the Eden Government to commit British Armed Forces to an invasion of the Suez Canal.  The Labour Party is totally opposed to the use of armed force.  A biography of Labour Party leader Hugh Gaitskell.  Audio clips from Sir Anthony Eden and Labour Foreign spokesman Bevan are included in this episode.

The British and French build up their military forces in Malta and Cyprus, ready for an invasion of the Suez Canal.  Senior members of the British, French and Israeli Government meet in secret to plan for the coming war, an agreement is reached.  A biography of British Foreign Secretary John Selwyn Lloyd.  The American Government remains opposed to any military action.

President Nasser of Egypt links with the West grow worse, while his ties with the Soviet Union improve, the Communist block supplies new modern weapons to Egypt.  American and British Government now wish to remove Nasser from power.  So does the French Government who blames Nasser for his support from Algerian independence.  A biography of French Prime Guy Mollet.

King Fakour of Egypt is deposed.  Within a few months, Nasser becomes the Egyptian leader, at first with American support.  A biography of Nasser is given. Britain agrees to remove its military from the Suez Canal Zone.  Egypt begins to support Palestine guerrilla attacks into Israel, there are border clashes between Egypt and Israel.

The Suez Canal is built in 1869, it becomes a vital sea link for Britain who later occupy Egypt.  Britain takes military action to defend the Suez Canal in two world war and maintain a large military garrison along the Canal.  King Fakour of Egypt tries to get the British Government to remove it military from the Canal, the British refuse.  A terrorism campaign is launched against the British Canal Zone as a result the British storm an Egyptian Police Station.  A biography and profile of British Prime Minister in 1956, Sir Anthony Eden. 

De Gaulle agrees to Algerian independence.  A million Pied Noir leave Algeria, most go to France, some to Spain, Canada and Israel.  A history of Algeria since 1962, FLN seize power and the country becomes a one party state.  A biography of Boumediene the president of Algeria between 1965 and 1978,  Under his rule many of those who fought for Algerian independence suffer under his regime.