American Strategic Deception Bureau

　In order to prepare for the President's inspection, Fieri had already arrived at Kunlun Island last week in advance with his four-member team of "old, weak and sick" from the CIA, as well as several logistics officers sent by the Pentagon to help - all of them were his old colleagues when he was a salesman, to make preparations.

　Generally speaking, the situation on the island was not bad. Firi found a way to contact ships and planes to transport most of the Vietnamese refugees to the transit station in Guam in advance, leaving only about four or five hundred people to live in the prison on the island - the South Vietnamese regime originally detained political prisoners here.

　Because there are fewer refugees, cleaning and sanitation are easier to maintain, and at least it looks decent.

　What made Firi even more relieved was that President Kennedy only stayed in the refugee camp on Kunlun Island for less than a quarter of an hour. He seemed to have no interest in the cheap gratitude of these refugees, but was more concerned about the geographical environment of the area and asked whether it was possible to build a military base on Kunlun Island.

　In this way, even if the US military and its allies could no longer stand on the mainland, they could retreat to this small island and tie down the Viet Cong.

　Naturally, Firi flattered the president and praised his wisdom.

　After a quick glance at Kunlun Island, Kennedy went to Phan Rang in the Central Highlands Federation. In this last reserve of the ancient Champa Kingdom, he met He Heng Niyi, a beautiful Jarai woman who was chosen by the mountain people of the Central Highlands to serve as a vase president. He performed the "gentlemanly demeanor" of a white noble in front of an indigenous beauty and promised to provide more arms aid to the ethnic minorities in the Central Highlands who were "oppressed by the Viet Cong."

　Afterwards, President Kennedy came to the scenic tourist resort of Nha Trang and stayed at the seaside villa of Bao Dai, the former Emperor of the Nguyen Dynasty of Vietnam. He also attended a grand and lively bonfire party with the soldiers of the 1st Marine Division, the 4th Class, who were on vacation and recuperation at the Nha Trang seaside resort.

　On November 12, President Kennedy arrived in Phu Quoc Island and met with Dr. Kissinger, who actually managed the island, and then inspected the refugee camp on the island.

　Because this is the number one starting point for Vietnamese refugees traveling to the United States, Firi also arrived on the island in advance to make arrangements.

　It has to be said that although there were many evil and filthy places, they were generally well hidden under the supervision of Dr. Kissinger. The CIA was not so absurd as to mess around in the open refugee camps, but at least transported people to their own secret bases first.

　In addition, there are many young American volunteers from the Peace Corps who are active in the refugee camps on the island and even in various fishing villages throughout Phu Quoc Island. In just six months, they widened roads, built hospitals, schools, agricultural technology stations and bridges, adding a lot of "civilized atmosphere" to the island.

　This also makes Phu Quoc Island look quite "full of vitality and flourishing" at this moment, showing a rare vitality.

　——The so-called "Peace Corps" is a propaganda team established by President Kennedy and an important business card for enhancing the image of the United States.

　In the early days of the Cold War, before Kennedy came to power, the only Americans that ordinary people in Third World countries could interact with were arrogant American soldiers and capitalists, and wealthy travelers. Their images represented America's international image in the Third World.

　Therefore, in the eyes of the people in third world countries, Americans are rich, arrogant and inaccessible, while the United States, as a superpower, is overbearing and unreasonable. The foreign policy it implements is to safeguard the interests of the white masters in Europe and the United States and a few bullies in third world countries.

　Presidents Eisenhower and Truman seemed to see nothing wrong with this brutal image of the United Fruit Company. They even took it for granted that the stupid and backward natives should kneel at the feet of the white masters and beg for mercy.

　But this is not what President Kennedy, who has a longer-term vision and certain progressive ideas, wants to see.

　Because the colonial era has ended, and the colonial people are rising up and driving out their white masters, like an irreversible trend.

　Simply using force to force third world countries to surrender has become a losing proposition. The correct path to hegemony is to use both soft and hard tactics.

　On this basis, the US-Soviet Cold War has evolved into an ideological struggle. The Soviet Union's red ideology naturally has a great advantage in winning the support of the general public. If the United States portrays itself as a big devil, it will obviously be detrimental to using lower costs.

　To manage the world.

　You know, during the Cold War, the Soviets had been spending money to support their socialist brothers and generously providing large amounts of aid to expand their influence. No matter how stupid the people in third world countries were, they knew who was good to them and who was bad to them!

　As the other pole in the Cold War, the United States could not only focus on the arms race and space race with the Soviet Union, but also had to compete in charity.

　President Kennedy believed that if the United States wanted to rule the world, it had to win the recognition and goodwill of the people in the vast majority of third world countries, rather than simply abusing the use of force to intimidate people, and even more so, it could not stand on the narrow position of European whites and simply turn itself into the successor of European colonists.

　Therefore, President Kennedy called on young Americans to form the "Peace Corps" and volunteer to go to underdeveloped areas around the world to help develop local education, health and agriculture. He hoped that through the dedication shown by Peace Corps volunteers, he could change the basic views or impressions of people in third world countries about Americans and the United States, and create the "soft power" of the United States in addition to its hegemony. According to President Kennedy's brother Robert Kennedy, the description of the "Peace Corps" is: "It shows that what we represent is not a selfish society, but a society that cares about others."

　It's true that America's Golden Age was still home to many idealists. The young American volunteers in the Peace Corps truly demonstrated America's generosity and goodwill through their actions. As the Thai Foreign Minister at the time described them, Peace Corps volunteers "did not live with our people in hotels or luxurious homes, but in the small huts of farmers, sharing food and shelter with them."

　These volunteers gave up their comfortable and affluent lives in the United States to come to impoverished, underdeveloped Third World countries, where they lived, ate, and worked alongside the local people. This embodied the American spirit of generosity, leaving a positive impression on the locals and fostering a sense of gratitude towards the United States and its people. At the same time, they also served as carriers of American culture, spreading its values ​​to many Third World countries.

　After all, even if the United States wants to further spread the influence of Hollywood, someone has to carry a projector to the countryside to show open-air movies!

　In general, the Peace Corps serves as both a medium for connecting the United States with Third World countries and a way for the United States to better understand them. Furthermore, by viewing the United States from the perspective of Third World countries, one can better understand the pros and cons of U.S. foreign policy.

　Throughout the Cold War, the people of Third World countries were deeply impressed by the United States' frequent military intervention in their internal affairs, as well as the assassinations and coups orchestrated by the CIA. These actions deeply resented these actions. The Peace Corps, however, could somewhat mitigate this negative impression of the United States, allowing them to see its "good" side, something that no other U.S. foreign aid agency or official had previously been able to achieve.

　Even the Latin American people, who have suffered greatly at the hands of the United States, will add "Peace Corps, stay" when they shout "Americans, go back."

　On the cold side, the Peace Corps has served as a "missionary" in the colonial era, helping the US government, which originally lacked understanding of remote corners of the world, to investigate the cultural background of many third world countries, thereby making US foreign policy decisions more targeted and effective. At the same time, it can also cultivate more pro-American elements in these countries and allow pro-American ideas to truly take root among the general public.

　Just as European colonists conquered the seven seas with only guns and a Bible in hand—if they only had the conquerors' guns and no missionaries' Bibles, they would have degenerated into mere pirates. Beyond plundering a few fleeting treasures, they would have been unable to establish themselves in foreign lands. It took well-intentioned missionaries, fearless of danger, to journey through the wilderness year after year to bring foreigners to their knees before European civilization.

　Although the Peace Corps had only been established for two years and its volunteer base was relatively limited, the Vietnam War had become a hot topic in American public opinion, attracting a large amount of attention, funding, and manpower. As a result, there were actually thousands of Peace Corps members active on the small island of Phu Quoc.

　They provide free infrastructure to the island's indigenous residents and provide food, water, and medical care to the Vietnamese refugees who have flocked to Phu Quoc. Thanks to massive financial investments and the refugees' massive labor force, the once shabby "tent city" refugee camp is gradually being transformed into a proper small town.

　For example, a considerable number of refugees have access to electricity and running water, and there are also crash courses in English to help them adapt to the United States as quickly as possible.

　All of these achievements made President Kennedy, who established the Peace Corps, proud and moved. He felt that even if the space race he launched was ultimately lost to the Soviets, the cultural victory achieved by the Peace Corps alone would be enough for him to brag in front of previous presidents.

　In short, after seeing the various "modernization achievements" and "well-organized" refugee camps on Phu Quoc Island, Kennedy embarked on his Cambodian journey, boarding a special plane directly to Phnom Penh, ready to have a private conversation with Prince Sihanouk...

　-

　At the U.S. Consulate on Phu Quoc Island, Phiri and Dr. Kissinger slumped on the sofa, their faces showing signs of fatigue.

　"Ah, the president is finally gone. It was exhausting having to accompany him and carefully wait on him all the way, and also having to stay alert and deal with the reporters."

　Firi muttered as he drank the Coke in his cup, while looking at Dr. Kissinger, from whom he had not seen for half a year. He found that this Jew seemed to have adapted well to the customs and practices of Southeast Asia, and was living quite comfortably on this island bordering the Gulf of Thailand.

　Well, he was wearing a short-sleeved shirt, a pair of big floral shorts, and sandals on his bare feet, revealing his dark leg and foot hair.

　Although his skin was tanned red and dark, he looked strong and energetic.

　Just like the retired American tourists who will be common in the red-light districts of Southeast Asian countries in the future.

　"If you're feeling tired, would you like someone to give you a massage? I have some new Thai girls here, and they're pretty good at it!"

　Dr. Kissinger tried to sell it to Fieri with a wink, as if he was presenting a treasure.

　A Thai chick? Could she be a transvestite?

　This thought subconsciously popped up in Fili's mind. But then he remembered that it was only the 1960s, and the rise of Thai ladyboys did not begin until the 1970s - at this time in Thailand, there were no professional ladyboys like those in the future.

　As for men dressing up as women, it's a long-standing tradition in Thailand. But it's essentially like men impersonating women in Chinese Peking Opera, a form of "traditional art"—one that doesn't require high-tech gadgets like estrogen, nor can it be used as a brand name to attract tourists.

　This is a common practice in almost every country in Southeast Asia, even Islamic countries. There was a Malaysian prime minister who, as a child, used to dress like a woman and dance to earn money. He didn't think it was shameful at all, and even said it was a virtue of working to earn money while studying.

　Sure enough, after Firi nodded, Kissinger reached out and rang the bell, and six dark-skinned but pretty Thai girls came out from behind the screen, holding bottles of massage oil and white bath towels. They asked the two white masters to take off their shirts, lie on the sofa, and enjoy their service.

　I have to say that these girls’ massage techniques are really good, which makes Fili feel very comfortable.

　Firi lay there with his eyes closed, chatting with Dr. Kissinger about his recent situation in Phu Quoc Island.

　Overall, after overcoming the initial chaos and anxiety, and with the subsequent arrival of various resources, Kissinger, the island owner, was quite happy. Not only did he have the final say in this small territory, he also arranged jobs for many of his students and juniors, gilding their qualifications. He even established connections with many businessmen in Thailand and Cambodia, earning a lot of bribes.

　By now, Dr. Kissinger felt that he had done enough on Phu Quoc Island and began to think about his next job.

　——Since Ngo Dinh Diem came to power and established the South Vietnamese regime, the US ambassador to South Vietnam has usually been replaced every year.

　Even though Ngo Dinh Diem had died suddenly, Saigon had fallen, and half of South Vietnam had been covered in the red, blue, and gold flag of the Vietcong, the several separatist regimes that the United States had rebuilt from the ruins of South Vietnam still followed the old rule of replacing their ambassadors once a year.

　Therefore, Kissinger's position as consul on Phu Quoc Island will probably only last until next spring.

　Should he re-enter Da Nang and succeed Nauldin as the next ambassador to Quang Nam? Or should he resign and return to the White House as an advisor, vying for a seat on President Kennedy's election team? Dr. Kissinger was undecided.

　So, he wanted to hear Fili's opinion and ask a more important question: "Brother Fili, you just came from China. Can you tell me, do you think President Kennedy will be successfully re-elected next year?"

　After hearing Dr. Kissinger's question, Firi couldn't help but fall into deep thought.

　.

　So, in the 1964 US presidential election in the timeline before Ferry traveled through time, after Kennedy's brain was blown, the Democratic Johnson faced the Republican Goldwater. In the end, Johnson won by a huge margin, which was one of the two largest vote margins in history.

　Not to mention, President Kennedy also established the Peace Corps, mobilized a large number of passionate young people, promoted America's "institutional confidence" and "cultural confidence" to the world, and exported America's soft power on a large scale to change America's former image of a vulgar nouveau riche.

　It also started a space race that will be engraved in the history of human civilization and sounded the great clarion call to the moon.

　These pioneering and great achievements are enough to make him one of the most legendary American presidents during the Cold War.

　(When future Americans think of the Cold War, they generally immediately think of Kennedy and Nixon, and then Reagan, who won the Cold War.)

　Generally speaking, as long as Kennedy doesn't cause any earth-shattering disaster next year, the vast majority of voters should vote for him.

　——Of course, this is just the opinion of ordinary American voters and does not represent the views of corporate consortiums and wealthy families.

　As we all know, the succession of the US presidential throne has never been solely determined by the votes in the hands of the voters...

　But in the dimension where Firi and the others are, the three years of President Kennedy's administration seemed quite ups and downs.

　If we say that in the first year, the glorious victory in the Dominican War, the comprehensive revitalization of the US economy, and the grand blueprint of the Apollo moon landing made the American people sing praises for President Kennedy's coming to power; then in the second year, with the Cuban War turning into a nuclear war, and the resulting unrest across the United States, skyrocketing prices and economic disorder, Kennedy's reputation among the American people declined sharply.

　By the third year, not only was the US economy still struggling, but with the sudden collapse of the South Vietnamese regime and the arrival of more than 200,000 US troops across the sea to the Indochina Peninsula to officially participate in the Vietnam War, domestic ideological confusion and political movements intensified.

　Although the American people, relying on long-standing official discipline, can still support this overseas war for world hegemony and can even tolerate the rising prices and huge military expenditures brought about by the war, their resentment towards President Kennedy is likely to increase further.

　What's more, just like the history that Ferry knew, the Kennedy brothers in this world were also keen on promoting the black civil rights movement.

　Not only did he condone, acquiesce in, and sponsor Martin Luther King's travels across the United States, launching massive black political rallies time and time again, he also used the power of the president to protect black people and forcibly paralyzed the interference and sabotage of the black movement by powerful agencies such as the FBI.

　When the first black student at the University of Mississippi attempted to enroll in 1962, it sparked fierce opposition from local white people. Even the governor personally came out to stop him, roaring "Get the niggers out of school!" President Kennedy actually ordered 400 federal law enforcement officers and 3000 National Guards to escort the black student to school!

　This move naturally shocked American society. While Kennedy gained the admiration of progressives, it also made him a thorn in the side of Southern white conservatives. White racists, still quite influential at the time, denounced Kennedy as a "white traitor" and a "friend of niggers." They completely forgot when these Anglo-Saxon gentlemen ever considered an Irish Catholic like Kennedy truly white.

　In short, because he had to launch the Vietnam War, Kennedy barely satisfied the appetite of the military-industrial complex; because he did not have time to pry away the Federal Reserve and take back the right to issue currency, Kennedy has not yet touched the core interests of many financial groups such as Hughes, Rockefeller, DuPont, and Morgan.

　Well, although he did say something about taking back the right to issue currency and reforming the Federal Reserve, but words are words and deeds are deeds. The financial groups are not so narrow-minded as to not allow the US president to say a few empty words and use a big stick to teach him a lesson.

　Therefore, the support rate that Kennedy wins among big capitalists and financiers today is much higher than in any other period of history.

　However, for the same reason, President Kennedy's popularity among ordinary Americans was far inferior to that of the same period in another historical line. According to a poll in October 1963, President Kennedy's approval rating in the United States dropped to around 49%, which was not enough to ensure re-election.

　In other words, if there was any disturbance, President Kennedy would be at risk of being kicked out of the White House next year.

　Given this, Fieri really couldn't predict whether Kennedy would win or lose next year's election.

　"Well, how should I put it? The number of people opposing the president has grown each year over the past three years, and there's still almost a year until the election. So it's hard for me to say whether President Kennedy will still be sitting in the White House by this time next year."

　In response to Dr. Kissinger's question, Fieri pondered for a moment and then replied, "In the coming months, there are simply too many variables that could affect the election. Not to mention whether the black population at home can remain peaceful for a year, or how General Westmoreland's war in Vietnam will pan out, the possibility of a Chinese atomic bomb exploding next year alone could have a significant impact on the election."

　After all, as the sitting president, Mr. John Kennedy is bound to be held accountable for everything that happens during his time in office..."

　“China’s Atomic

　"Bomb..." Dr. Kissinger lay on the massage sofa, pondering with a complicated look in his eyes, "This is indeed a trouble. Based on my dealings with Prince Sihanouk in the past six months, as long as the president is sincere, it should be no problem to ask him to help go to Beijing.

　By the same token, if the United States is not trying to force Beijing to abandon its nuclear weapons development program, but simply wants Beijing to postpone the detonation of its atomic bomb until after the US election in November next year, it seems that there is a great chance of success.

　But even if the message is passed on, if this matter is to be finalized, there must be secret negotiations between the representatives of China and the United States... Even if it is just a small concession, Beijing cannot just finalize it based on Prince Sihanouk's words..."

　"If that's the case, Dr. Kissinger, would you or Professor Brzezinski be interested in trying it?"

　Firi suggested that, "In the short term, due to political correctness, Washington has no intention of abandoning Taiwan and establishing diplomatic relations with Beijing. This is just a temporary secret diplomatic contact, and it even has to be kept secret from Capitol Hill and bypass Secretary Rusk to avoid public outcry.

　After all, the country is still filled with countless McCarthyites who strongly oppose any interaction between the government and the other side of the Iron Curtain.

　In this case, the diplomats sent by the federal government must not be of too high a status and must be as inconspicuous as possible, but they must also gain the full trust of the president. At the same time, they must have a flexible mind and keen judgment, and be able to make Red China make necessary concessions at the lowest cost.

　As the Consul of Phu Quoc Island, you are a diplomat on the front lines of the Cold War's "Bamboo Curtain." If you can successfully negotiate this matter, I'm sure it will greatly enhance your standing in the White House, perhaps even allow you to join the President's inner circle, right?

　Dr. Kissinger's eyes rolled around, and he seemed to be excited, but also a little hesitant.

　"This... uh, the risk is a bit high... I need to think about it. Let's see how the talks between the President and Prince Sihanouk go first, shall we?"

　-

　Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia

　On Monivong Boulevard, the busiest street in the city, a convoy of vehicles, followed by motorcycles, slowly drove out of the gate of the palace.

　US President Kennedy and Prince Sihanouk, who ruled Cambodia, rode in the same car and were about to go to a new theater built by Prince Sihanouk in the capital to enjoy a Khmer national court dance performance.

　In the back seat of the car, President Kennedy and Prince Sihanouk chatted casually.

　Although President Kennedy looked a little tired due to the recent days of running around, his eyes seemed quite relaxed.

　——It was easy to ask Prince Sihanouk to act as an intermediary and go to Beijing to convey the message about the atomic bomb explosion in Lop Nur!

　Prince Sihanouk had recently been planning to go to Beijing to complain to a teacher about the Vietcong's "Republic of South Vietnam," which not only continued to illegally occupy Cambodia's eastern provinces but also refused to return disputed border lands that Ho Chi Minh had previously promised to Cambodia.

　——Friendly treaties with territorial changes were signed, but in reality they were not implemented at all. Aren’t such friendly treaties just waste paper?

　Of course, given the Kingdom of Cambodia's current state of disrepair and lack of troops, direct military action against the Vietcong is unrealistic. But could they always complain to their superiors? Didn't Beijing previously propose the "Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence"? Supporting Vietnam against US imperialism is fine, but how could it support Vietnam's invasion of Cambodian territory? Is this moral plaque still there?

　In this case, it seems normal to pass on a private message for President Kennedy while going to Beijing to file a complaint.

　For Prince Sihanouk, it was a pleasant surprise to gain the personal friendship of the ruler of the world's most powerful country.

　Aren't connections and friendships built up bit by bit like this? Even if you don't use them regularly, they become incredibly valuable when you do.

　In short, after the business was settled, both the host and the guest soon relaxed. In order to show his hospitality, Prince Sihanouk not only hosted a grand banquet in the palace to entertain President Kennedy, but also took President Kennedy to visit various scenic spots and historical sites in Phnom Penh and enjoy various cultural performances.

　If Angkor Wat wasn't so far away on the other side of Tonle Sap Lake, he might have wanted to take President Kennedy to see Angkor Wat.

　However, in this atmosphere of laughter and joy, a dark cloud is quietly descending.

　As the royal motorcade once again drove down Monivong Boulevard, Prince Sihanouk and President Kennedy in the car were unaware that a sturdy young man in black was crouching on the roof of a building, staring intently at the motorcade's trajectory...

　When Prince Sihanouk's official car drove to a certain location, the young man in black showed a sinister smile and pressed the detonator switch fiercely.

　"Go to hell! You feudal leader who defected to the American empire!"

　The next moment, with the light and flames, President Kennedy, who was sitting in the car, felt dizzy and then lost consciousness.