About LAOS: The land mass is much smaller than England (thus excluding Scotland and Wales). It is a small, poor, landlocked nation. The capital city, Vientiane, has about 750,000 people who are basically terrified to go into their own small towns and forests. The population is 6.6 million. The population density is 29 Laotians per square kilometre. The US dropped 240 million cluster bombs on Laos (American estimate). Yes, 240 million cluster bombs. 80 million unexploded US bombs still exist in Laos, in towns, fields, and forests. Yes, 80 million large and quite vicious unexploded US bombs. 90% of the country, due to rough terrain, poisoned water and unexploded ordnance is not arable. The US President has pledged (although not given) $90US million to Laos to 'help them' clear the bombs, as a moral thing, as long as Laos forms and maintains a trade partnership with the US that excludes their neighbour, China...who has never bombed them. So that's about a bit over a dollar per large unexploded bomb. 'Here, Jimbo, here's ten bucks...go explode ten of 'em...just run about...and look after yourself. We're on your side. We care about you.' I can imagine the gratitude of the Laotians. Some may try to smile but unfortunately the Agent Orange and other chemical weapons deep in their genetics now means the kids, and their kids, need a hell of a lot of facial surgery to even wince. (See Operation Smile- Laos).That's after the USA prevented any form of medical or financial aid to the destroyed country for 20 years as a punishment on Laos for being geographically situated next to Vietnam. It is such a poor country following America's bombing that it couldn't afford to build an airport or roads in the capital Vientiane. The Dutch and the Japanese built them for them out of pure kindness. President Obama landed his big impressive planes at that airport yesterday, and pledged his amazing heart-felt offer.... Thanks America! Go Fuck Yourself! Vientiane is a lovely city, a war wracked old French Colonial Outpost. They make very good baguettes and very good Lao thick coffee. They also make many thousands of genetically stuffed new babies every year, thanks to America. Laos has become a bit of a tourist spot for Western international youth, having full moon parties, getting stoned and eating hamburgers in the villages where the Laotians themselves can only afford to eat rats.