Main character was based on Edward Lansdale. It looks like Max Boot's new book confirms main outlnes of Greene's characterization of Lansdale as kind of simple.
I'll add I'm usually suspicious of Brits who say "Americans are too simple-minded to run a proper empire" but Greene was on to something.
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The bit on Hochstetter is from Fred Logevall, who has a really good chapter on QA in Embers of War. I've taught QA in US foreign relations classes for years, but it didn't work at all this last time.
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I don't think Phuong works as a character or a symbol for Vietnam in our current moment, and I think the kids are right
End of conversation
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