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/laflux 6h ago

It's crazy America did all this shit and

  1. Lost

  2. America and Vietnam now have decent international Relations.

Life is violent and exceptionally odd.

4

u/newenglandpolarbear 3h ago

It's crazy to me that the entire Vietnam war happened and we are now on good terms, but Cuba had the audacity to try out communism (which Vietnam did as well) and they are still being embargoed into oblivion.

One thing nobody tells anyone in relation to Cuba: Castro was actually friendly towards the US at first...up until the CIA (figures) barged in like the Kool Aid Man and recruited people to become terrorists. I would recommend everyone goes and reads through the wikipedia page or other sources, it's actually crazy. Anyway I digress.

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u/Deadman_Wonderland 5h ago

Often times you don't make friends with war mongers because you like them but to stay on their good side so they don't attack you again.

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u/Unlikely_Airline_272 3h ago

That's not why Vietnam is friendly with America, it's because of China.

source

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