According to Hartwick, the problem stems around the old guard (top government officials) who have determined that they do not need to be responsive to the international community.  They have all their needs met, their power structure is securely in place with Vietnam and now they lean towards coming China to empower them.

The old guard, according to Hartwick, work maybe ten hours a week, anything they do not want to address, including correspondence from the United States, concerned family members, the UN or any other international community is ignored or thrown in the garbage.
 
Hardwick said he has only been able to talk with lower Lao officials, who would like to see change occur, but the old guard is firmly entrenched and until they are removed from office, the government will not change and the people will remain under communist control.

In the larger picture, asked of the US Embassy, "could Laos be at risk of being in the middle of a military conflict between Vietnam and China?  Are Lao diplomats playing a dangerous game of pitting one country against the other - hoping that at the end of the day Laos will be a prosperous Utopia and the current LPDR intact as the ruling leaders of the country?"
 
According to the US Embassy, "Absolutely, maybe not soon, because Vietnam and China are getting along, but as time passes and the countries continue vying for the land mass of Laos - the small country could find itself in the middle of an armed conflict. China desiring the untapped Laos, Vietnam wanting to keep their buffer from China in place."

About the people in the jungle, the faithful who fought for the US and the remnant of the Royal government, the only solution, according to Hartwick is for the Veterans and their families to surrender. The Lao government might assimilate them back into Lao society.
 
Hartwick said, because of the recent surrender or capture of the men, women & children the Lao government has renewed their efforts to make the people surrender or to annihilated them.

What is the solution to saving the Secret War Veterans and their family according to the US Embassy, but the attention of the international media, pouring the spot light on Laos?  If Laos should lose investors or coming international industry then they might stop hammering the US Secret War Veterans and their families and allow them safe passage out of the mountains of Laos.