Secrets and Lies in Vietnam: Spies, Intelligence and Covert Operations in the Vietnam Wars

by Panagiotis Dimitrakis

The Vietnam War lasted twenty years, and was the USA's greatest military failure. An attempt to stem the spread of Soviet and Chinese influence, the conflict in practice created a chaotic state torn apart by espionage, terrorism and guerilla warfare. American troops quickly became embroiled in jungle warfare and knowledge of the other side's troop movements, communication lines, fighting techniques and strategy became crucial.

Panagiotis Dimitrakis uncovers this battle for intelligence and tells the story of the Vietnam War through the newly available British, American and French sources―including declassified material. In doing so he dissects the limitations of the CIA, the NSA, the MI6 and the French intelligence-the SDECE-in gathering actionable intelligence. Dimitrakis also shows how the Vietminh under Ho Chi Minh established their own secret services; how their high grade moles infiltrated the US and French military echelons and the government of South Vietnam, and how Hanoi's intelligence apparatus eventually suffered seriously from 'spies amongst us' paranoia. In doing so he enhances our understanding of the war that came to define its era.

256 pages, Hardcover

First published August 30, 2016

About the author

Panagiotis Dimitrakis is an historian and completed his PhD in War Studies at King's College London. He was educated at the Department of Mass Media and Communication of the University of Athens and received an MA in International Peace and Security from King's College London. His interests lie in the history of international diplomacy, intelligence and strategy.