The Vietnam Spy Who Betrayed Us, Part I

[Great History]

Pham Xuan An spied for the North Vietnamese while posing as a reporter for the likes of Time magazine. Larry Berman's book about An is a little too flattering for this author's taste.


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[Sgt. Rock]

I'm always interested in learning about espionage, and recently learned a little about Pham Xuan An, and agree with your assessment about the gushing about him by the Western press. If a spy had done this in WWII working for the Nazis or the Japanese against the Allies, nobody would be gushing about him making him out to be some great awesome reporter. From what I learned Pham Xuan An wasn't allowed to leave Communist Vietnam after the war.

From the link below it indicates that he gave intelligence that helped decide several important battles. I haven't read the book so I can't expand on what battles, but I'd be interested in learning more.

From the link below.

"From Publishers Weekly
Bass (The Eudaemonic Pie) expands his New Yorker profile of Vietnamese journalist-spy Pham Xuan An into this atmospheric study of tangled war-time loyalties. Working from 1965 to 1976 in Time magazine's Saigon bureau, An became known as a well-informed and connected reporter. Meanwhile, he passed clandestine reports and top-secret South Vietnamese and American military documents to the Communists; his intelligence purportedly helped decide several important battles."

http://www.amazon.com/Spy-Who-Loved-...ref=pd_sim_b_4

[Miss Saigon]

Originally Posted by Great History

Larry Berman's book about An is a little too flattering for this author's taste.

Mine too

[JSMoss]

The interesting question is how did a Time reporter get access to top secret US and Vietnam documents. While his actions are vile, there would seem to be a big shame on us for letting it happen in here somewhere.

[skiplc]

Just bought the book at local dollar store.

For a dollar.

26.95 price on the dust cover...

I probably paid too much.

If you want my copy for your library Missy, I'll put it in the mail after I read it.

Edit: To elaborate, "The Spy Who Loved Us by Thomas A Bass" is the book I bought today. If anyone wants a copy, I'll ask if additional copies are available for a buck each.

[Mandarincook]

If I were living on that era I would had easily sensed betrayal by his slanted articles on the Vietnam War and his 'exceptional gift' of 'knowing the enemy' through information fed by the Vietcong intelligence and the Soviet Union spy agencies. Tongue slips and ideological outbursts (one miss, you die) like those of Kim Philby and slanted essays which form part of communist active measures should be dealt with outright dismissal (of course with a few exceptions like our very own professional spy, Victor Corpus of the Armed Forces of the Philippines).