Why America had Bihar in mind before winning the Vietnam War, how acid rain was caused through cloud seeding

New Delhi: On the morning of July 3, 1971. The Americans had just woken up when the New York Times newspaper arrived. A story about the Vietnam War was published in it. It was said that the American government crossed all limits and launched Operation Popeye to win the Vietnam War. In this mission, poisonous chemical agents were used in Vietnam and the US Air Force is conducting cloud seeding i.e. artificial rain throughout Vietnam, so that the lost war can be won at any cost. After reading this news, there was an earthquake in the whole world including America. The Americans came to know how the American government in Vietnam was shedding the blood of its soldiers like water and had crossed the limits of barbarity on Vietnam to win the war. The context behind this story is that recently poisonous winds have suffocated people in Delhi-NCR. In such a situation, like last year, this time also cloud seeding is being talked about. Know about its dangerous uses.

What was Operation Popeye, which swept the streets of Vietnam?

When American forces were unable to stand against Vietnamese guerrilla fighters, the American government thought of launching a dangerous mission. At that time, the US Air Force secretly ran Operation Popeye, also known as Project Controlled Weather Popeye or Motorpool or Intermediary Compatriot, from 1967 to 1972. In this operation the US Air Force carried out military cloud seeding over Vietnam. Due to which the roads of Vietnam were washed away. Massive landslides occurred, temporarily blocking North Vietnamese military supplies.

What is cloud seeding, who invented this technique?

Cloud seeding is a weather-modifying technique used to create artificial rain from clouds. Experts also call it weather modification. The purpose of cloud seeding is to increase the amount of rain or snow in the atmosphere. It is also used to reduce hailstorm or spread fog. For cloud seeding, silver iodide, potassium iodide or solid carbon dioxide (dry ice) is sprayed from helicopters or aircraft. This spraying is done in the direction opposite to the air flow. American scientist Vincent J. Schaefer invented the technique of cloud seeding.

CIA had hatched a conspiracy, had misled the US Parliament

Operation Popeye was part of the US government’s chemical weather modification program. Such operations were carried out from Thailand to Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. It is said that these operations were carried out by Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and the US intelligence agency CIA without the approval of the then US Defense Secretary Melvin Laird. It is believed that the US Parliament i.e. Congress had not approved this.

Acid rain, ecocide was done under Operation Popeye

The US used artificial clouds and rain to help South Vietnamese intelligence and commando teams infiltrate North Vietnam. The US Air Force created a chemical agent called acid rain, which damaged radar equipment in North Vietnam. This deadly artificial rain was called ecocide. That is, the forests of Vietnam were destroyed on a large scale, where Vietnamese guerrilla fighters used to hide.

A part of Operation Popeye was also tried in Bihar

Apart from Vietnam, the US Defense Department also tried cloud seeding in the rest of the world. The devastating drought in Bihar, India in the mid-1960s gave the US an opportunity to try Operation Popeye. Under the name Project Grommet, American planes carried out cloud seeding of monsoon clouds before summer to bring rain on dry land. But, his/her attempt was unsuccessful. Project Popeye was later used as a weapon of war in Laos and Vietnam. Lyndon B. Johnson, the US President from 1963 to 1969, vowed to win the Vietnam War. he/she wanted to win it at any cost, but he/she could never succeed in his/her plan.

Operation Popeye was part of Project Stormfury

A report titled Rainmaking in SEASIA reported that lead iodide and silver iodide were planned to be used by US Air Force aircraft as part of Operation Popeye. It was first developed at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake in California. This was followed by testing in Okinawa, Guam, the Philippines, Texas and Florida. This operation was part of Project Stormfury.

Monsoon rains were increased for 45 days

The purpose of Operation Popeye was to destroy the Vietnamese enemy’s military supply trucks and roads. Under this, to cause so much artificial rain in the enemy areas, so that the Vietnamese lose the war. Due to this artificial rain, the road surface of many areas including the Vietnamese city Ho Chi Minh became soft. Roads were ruined due to landslides caused by rain. River bridges were washed away. The goal of the operation was to increase the rainy days from 30 to 45 days every monsoon season.

Instead of war, turn all of Vietnam into mud.

The American reconnaissance squadron war planes had made the slogan at that time that instead of war, turn the whole of Vietnam into mud. The operation began on March 20, 1967, and continued throughout the rainy season (March to November) throughout Southeast Asia, including Vietnam, until March 1972. Operational cloud seeding missions were flown. Three C-130 Hercules aircraft and two F-4C Phantoms based at Udon Thani Royal Thai Air Force Base in Thailand flew two sorties each day.

Motorpool code name for operations to create artificial rain

The American aircraft were officially on seasonal reconnaissance missions and the aircraft pilots also produced weather report data. Several warplanes were sent into operation on a regular basis from weather reconnaissance squadrons from Guam. Raindrop missions within the squadron were given the code name Motorpool.

American newspaper reporter had made a sensational revelation

The sensational revelation about the use of poisonous chemicals in the Vietnam War was first made by a reputed newspaper reporter Jack Anderson. Anderson in his/her report then named this operation Intermediary Compatriot. The name Operation Popeye (Pop Eye) was given by the US Defense Headquarters i.e. Pentagon, which released the Pentagon Papers regarding Operation Popeye.