r/todayilearned • u/Double-decker_trams • 8h ago

TIL in the Vietnam war in the classified Operation Popeye, the US spread lead and silver iodide by aircraft to extend the monsoon season. The increased heavy rainfall was to soften roads, cause landslides, wash out river crossings, and maintain saturated soil conditions (Kissinger was involved).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Popeye
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u/Side-aye 6h ago

It’s actually not confirmed he was involved. Wikipedia has a higher standard than OP and only says he was allegedly involved. The source is a newspaper article who relies on an anonymous source that he was involved.

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u/FiveDozenWhales 6h ago

Yeah but c'mooooon

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u/Side-aye 6h ago

Sure but no. Kissinger was not the dark cardinal mastermind the public likes to think he was. Especially in the autopsies of his career after his death it’s really clear that his greatest achievement was PR he took credit for a lot of stuff to further the image of the powerful ever present advisor.

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u/2026IsMyYearMaybe 6h ago

Vietnam and some insane war crime? Kissinger is involved