Wes Kingsley
Insight Myanmar31 Loka 2023

Wes Kingsley

Episode #198: Wes Kingsley's remarkable journey takes us through his CIA assignments in various conflict-ridden regions, such as post-independence Congo, and Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War. It also takes us to Burma, which holds a special place in Wes's heart amid all his other adventures, as that is where he met his future wife and developed an appreciation of Buddhism.

Wes’s first CIA stint was in Eritrea, in Africa. During his time there, the Simba Rebellion in the Congo was heating up. A crisis developed in which American hostages were taken, and Wes was dispatched there to try and rescue them. Wes then went to Vietnam, experiencing the brutality of war and narrowly escaping attacks by the Vietcong, eventually leaving Saigon on one of the very last flights out of the besieged city.

Choosing Rangoon as his next destination, Wes hoped for a quieter atmosphere while combating Burma's narcotics trade. He witnessed the violent 1974 crackdown on student protests over the burial of U Thant’s body, but found solace in the peaceful nature of the Burmese people.

The uncommonly adventurous nature of his life even extended to his Burmese wife-to-be. Due to her inability to get a passport to leave the country, she escaped with gem smugglers to Thailand. Wes had to bribe Thai officials to marry them. Later, during his assignment in Jamaica, working for the State Department, he was “outed” as having worked for the CIA in Africa, resulting in he an assassination attempt on him and his family.

From Paris to Liberia to Central America to Manila, Wes’ adventurous life continued. But amid all the countries he visited and dangerous challenges he faced, the peaceful nature of the Burmese people and Buddhism still shine brightly in his memory.

Jaksot(507)

No Magical Thinking

No Magical Thinking

Ni Ni has been planning for a revolution for as long as she can remember… just not this one. She had expected her fight to be about gender equality. But she says, “Now, I am fighting back about basic ...

20 Touko 20211h 34min

Punk Revolutionary

Punk Revolutionary

Kyaw Kyaw has been a revolutionary about as long as he can remember. His political awakening came through an unlikely influence: punk culture. “Punk is being yourself. It’s a rebellion against injusti...

15 Touko 20211h 55min

Home Is Where the Heart Is

Home Is Where the Heart Is

You are listening to the second episode in our ongoing series, titled “Love Letters to Myanmar.”This series features guests who share their warmest memories and anecdotes, discuss what life lessons th...

9 Touko 20211h 40min

Operation Defection

Operation Defection

For his contribution to the resistance, Ven Detta is seeking inspiration from Vladmir Lenin, spending the last several months studying the history of how soldiers are coaxed to defect during insurrect...

5 Touko 20211h 6min

Literally A Nightmare Scenario

Literally A Nightmare Scenario

Thiri is no stranger to the trauma brought on by the military coup. She spent five years with Human Rights Watch listening to people with cruel and brutal stories of their families killed or harmed by...

30 Huhti 20212h 12min

A Risk-Taker at Risk

A Risk-Taker at Risk

“Thurain” (not his real name) had planned to spend the start of 2021 building on his already impressive worldly achievements. Though a “country boy” from birth, he had made his mark in Yangon, establi...

25 Huhti 20211h 49min

Touches with the Golden Land

Touches with the Golden Land

Our team has decided to present a new series that focuses on our love and appreciation for the Golden Land. We hope that upcoming episodes in this series can help to provide some kind of counterbalanc...

21 Huhti 20212h 15min

Going Rogue: A Doctor on the Front Lines

Going Rogue: A Doctor on the Front Lines

Coco’s career path in medicine wasn’t supposed to end up this way. But on February 1st, for Coco and so many others, “all of the dreams just got wasted away.”He was initially hesitant to join the stre...

14 Huhti 20212h 27min

Suosittua kategoriassa Politiikka ja uutiset

aikalisa
ootsa-kuullut-tasta-2
politiikan-puskaradio
tervo-halme
rss-ootsa-kuullut-tasta
viisupodi
rss-vaalirankkurit-podcast
rss-podme-livebox
rss-asiastudio
otetaan-yhdet
the-ulkopolitist
et-sa-noin-voi-sanoo-esittaa
rss-tasta-on-kyse-ivan-puopolo-verkkouutiset
rss-kaikki-uusiksi
rss-hyvaa-huomenta-bryssel
rss-kiina-ilmiot
linda-maria
rikosmyytit
radio-antro
rss-polikulaari-pitka-kiekko-ja-muut-ts-podcastit