Indochina Vietnam War

Evaluate the Impact of US Operations in Indochina in the 1960s and 1970s on the Khmer Rouge Victory in 1975

From the 1960’s to 1970’s, the United State’s foreign intervention in the Indochina region produced political revolt throughout Cambodia that would contribute to the influential victory of the Khmer Rouge in 1975. The unfavourable US involvement in Cambodia resulted in multiple factors that catalysed the Khmer Rouge’s succession to power. The United States’ military and political interests in the Vietnam War later extended to Cambodia, erupting tensions that eventually led to a Khmer Rouge victory. After US bombing interventions destroyed the spirit of the nation, propaganda and ideology played a pivotal role in the orientation of a
During the Second Indochina War, Cambodia provided the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Army a safe conduit for supplies and resources to South Vietnam; however, the communist presence threatened the United States’ military operations and fuelled growing concerns. Hence, in March 1969 US President Nixon ordered secret bombings to expel North Vietnamese troops in Cambodia in attempt to protect the United States backed government in South Vietnam. Nixon’s incontestable disregard for innocent lives was evidenced in a transcript of a taped order sent to Henry Kissinger (1970), “I want everything that can fly to go in there and crack the hell out of them.” The brutal intentions of his “Vietnamisation” failed; subsequently, the communist forces retreated deeper into Cambodia, forming an alliance with the Khmer Rouge providing them with the insurgents to gain control. The alliance also supplied the guerrilla group with Chinese and Soviet weapons from the Cambodian section of the Ho Chi Minh trail, strengthening and legitimising their campaign. Moreover, the selfish intentions of the United States’ operations in Indochina wrought instability, attracting discontent amongst the population; thus, many civilians turned to the Khmer Rouge for a solution. As the
Prior to the change of leadership, the Cambodian head of state Prince Sihanouk’s aim to maintain neutrality proved too difficult with Cold War tensions creating ineffective governance that ultimately displeased his people. Historian David Chandler (1983) argues, “as Sihanouk was becoming vulnerable, his enemies were becoming stronger.” This statement was explicitly true when right-winged Lon Nol overthrew Sihanouk as leader in 1970 reversed military policies, involving Cambodia into the depths of a wider war. Conflict fledged between government troops and various factions of Vietnamese communist forces escalated; hence, the diverted attention made way for the Khmer Rouge uprising. Since Lon Nol’s regime was supported by the United States, his rule became increasingly unpopular as he actively followed the Americans into the Vietnam War. Furthermore, Nol’s alliance with the United States provided the resources that were used to continue the civil war, prolonging the losses, which would disenchant the population and drive them to the Khmer Rouge. Additionally, Lon Nol’s regime was perceived as a puppet government controlled by the United States, and his corruption and antidemocratic policies fuelled rising opposition; consequently, many Cambodians turned to the Khmer Rouge’s message of