So much to lose: John F. Kennedy and American policy in Laos

Introduction: we've got so much to lose if that thing goes sour

We cannot enforce what we would like

A wide measure of discretion

Less precise language than we desire

A disagreeable, hard, and dangerous fact

A severe loss of face

A very hazardous course

A colossal booby trap

We do not have the power of decision

Tenuous at best

A piece of war

We're going to have to take some action

Epilogue: an awful mess.