Fuelling the war : revealing an oil company's role in Vietnam

"For the last three years of the Vietnam War, the author of this book was Chief Executive of Shell Vietnam. As such he controlled half the country's oil supply which was purchased by the Americans, used by the South Vietnamese, fought for by the Vietcong and often supplied to the North Vietnamese and Vietcong armies through indirect channels. This book is his account of the role of oil in that war. The action takes place mainly in Saigon among ambassadors, generals, politicians, bankers, businessmen, CIA agents, spies and hustlers. Wesseling recounts the behind-the-scenes manipulation and skulduggery which formed a little-known part of the Vietnam War."--Bloomsbury Publishing. April 1975, Saigon. US helicopters cumbersomely lift off from the roof of the American Embassy, heavily laden with fleeing diplomats, military officers and senior officials. The image has become an icon for an era, symbolizing in the most dramatic terms an American trauma whose impact has been felt throughout the world ever since. Twenty-five years after that retreat, Fuelling the War reveals an unusual dimension of that conflict. It tells the story of the role of oil in Vietnam. In the process it sheds fascinating light on the murky relationship between war and commerce. In the last three years of the Vietnam War, 19721975, Louis Wesseling was Chief Executive of Shell Vietnam. The company controlled half of the country's oil supply, which was purchased by the Americans, used by the South Vietnamese and fought for by the Vietcong and the North Vietnamese. Revealed here for the first time is how American oil supplies also ended up fuelling the communist armies, with Shell failing to control shipments which flowed through indirect channels to the 'enemy'. The action mostly takes place in Saigon, among ambassadors, generals, politicians, bankers, businessmen, CIA agents, spies and hustlers. For the first time, Wesseling unveils the behind-the-scenes manipulation and skulduggery that formed this unknown part of the Vietnam conflict. Written with the power of a thriller, Fuelling the War makes an important contribution to our understanding of one of the most perplexing episodes of twentieth-century history. Pt. I. Year Of The Mouse -- 1. Keepers Of The Grail: Shell Centre -- 2. Who Are These Vietnamese? A Historical Point Of View -- 3. Handover In Saigon: First Warnings -- 4. War Risks: The Northern Military Region And The Rung Sat Swamps -- 5. The Red Files: Hidden Truths -- 6. Saigon Hostess -- 7. A Vietnamese Labour Dispute And A Skeleton In The Closet At Nha Be -- 8. Peace Negotiations In Paris: Economic Warfare In Vietnam -- 9. A Tanker Under Attack -- 10. The Price Of War: An Estimate Of Outside Economic Support Of The Belligerents -- Pt. Ii. Year Of The Buffalo -- 11. Peace Celebrations -- 12. Leopard Spots -- 13. South China Sea: The First Oil Exploration Contract -- 14. Organised Theft And A Dinner -- 15. Another Attack On Nha Be: Resignation Of A High Flyer -- 16. The Flower Of American Generalship -- 17. Cambodian Operetta And Black Tragedy -- 18. The Laotian Dream -- 19. Vietnam Highland Defences -- Pt. Iii. Year Of The Tiger -- 20. The 1973 Oil Crisis -- 21. Nha Be Installation On Fire: A Phoenix -- 22. Singapore Oil Embargo -- 23. The Chinese Navy In Action -- 24. Ben Cat: A Battle In Which Each Side Gains -- 25. Vung Tau Beach -- 26. Farewell Vietnam -- Pt. Iv. Year Of The Cat -- 27. Back In The Centre -- 28. Peaceful Europe -- 29. A Chinese Encounter -- 30. My Return Ticket. Louis Wesseling. The story of the role of oil in the last 3 years of the Vietnam war, when Wesseling was Chief Executive of Shell Vietnam. He controlled half the country's oil supply which was purchased by the Americans, used by the South Vietnamese, fought for by the Vietcong and often supplied to the North Vietnamese and Vietcong armies through indirect channels. "Fuelling the War tells the story of the role of oil in Vietnam. In the process it sheds light on the murky relationship between war and commerce."--BOOK JACKET