| sperry |
2007-06-05 10:03 AM |
Remember the joke about...
..."Rancho Cambodia"?
It's more accurate that you might think:
http://www.axcessnews.com/index.php/.../show/id/11192
Quote:
Federal authorities uncover plot to overthrow Laos government by exiles living in California
(AXcess News) Sacramento - A joint investigation by Federal authorities uncovered a plot to overthrow the Laos government by force, the U.S. Attorneys office in California announced today.
U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott of the Eastern District of California said an ex-general in the Laos army, Vang Pao, 77, of Westminster, California was amongst the nine suspects arrested and charged.
Pao, known as General Vang Pao, had been a General in the Laos Army in the 1960's and 1970's and migrated to the United States in 1975.
Pao, along with his co-conspirators, were charged with conspiring to acquire hundreds of AK-47 automatic rifles, Stinger missiles, AT-4 anti-tank missiles, LAW rockets, claymore mines, C-4 explosive, and smoke grenades, which they intended to use to engage in the violent overthrow of the government of Laos.
Scott said the arrests were part of a six-month underground investigation dubbed "Operation Tarnished Eagle".
Today over 200 federal agents and local law enforcement officers executed pre-dawn search and arrest warrants and took the defendants into custody without incident.
Along with General Pao, the FBI arrested retired U.S. military officer, Harrison Jack, 60, of Woodland, California. Jack, who was a graduate of West Point military acadamy in 1968, was charged with conspiracy to receive and possess missiles (Stingers), which are designed to destroy aircraft.
The criminal complaint outlines a series of meetings with an undercover ATF agent and conversations among the alleged co-conspirators during which they outlined plans to ship arms to Laos via safe houses and drop zones in Thailand and Laos, and to use those arms to engage in a military operation in Laos. The complaint includes a statement by Lo Cha Thao in which he arranged for a team of special operations mercenaries to go into Vientiane, Laos and blow up several government buildings, including the Laos Royal Palace. According to the complaint, Lo Cha Thao stated that he wanted the mercenary troops to reduce the buildings to rubble.
Lo Cha Thao, 34, of Clovis, California was arrested at his home this morning.
Also arrested were: Youa True Vang, 60, of Sanger, Hue Vang, 39, of Fresno, Chong Vang Thao, 53, of Fresno, Seng Vue, 68, of Fresno, Chu Lo, 59, and Lo Thao, 53, both of Stockton; all in California. Nhia Kao Vang of Rancho Cordova also was arrested and charges are pending.
Following the arrests, Assistant Attorney General Kenneth L. Wainstein of the National Security Division said, "We cannot tolerate our country being used as a staging ground for foreign coup attempts."
Acting Director of the FBI, Michael J. Sullivan said. "This investigation read like a movie script, but turned out to be reality."
Sullivan explained that an ATF undercover agent acting as an arms dealer lead them to believe he could fulfill their needs.
"The United States cannot provide a safe harbor to those plotting to overthrow a government with whom we are at peace," stated U.S. Attorney Scott.
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:eek: :lol: |
