Bombing of Cambodia

Bombing of Cambodia. The United States conducted a secret bombing campaign against Cambodia during the Vietnam War, targeting North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong supply lines and bases. The bombing campaign was authorized by President Richard Nixon and Henry Kissinger, and was carried out by the United States Air Force and United States Navy. The campaign involved B-52 Stratofortress bombers and F-4 Phantom II fighter-bombers, and was supported by CIA intelligence and National Security Agency surveillance.

Background

The Vietnam War had been escalating since the early 1960s, with the United States providing military support to the South Vietnamese government against the North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong. The Ho Chi Minh Trail was a key supply route for the North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong, running through Laos and Cambodia. The United States had been conducting bombing campaigns against North Vietnam since 1965, but the North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong had established a strong presence in Cambodia, which was officially neutral. Prince Norodom Sihanouk had allowed North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong forces to use Cambodian territory, but had also maintained relations with the United States. The Tet Offensive in 1968 had shown the strength of the North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong, and the United States was looking for ways to disrupt their supply lines and bases.

Operation Menu

Operation Menu was the code name for the bombing campaign against Cambodia, which began on March 18, 1969. The campaign involved B-52 Stratofortress bombers flying from Guam and Thailand, and F-4 Phantom II fighter-bombers flying from Thailand and South Vietnam. The bombing campaign targeted North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong supply lines and bases, including the Central Office for South Vietnam (COSVN) headquarters. The CIA and National Security Agency provided intelligence support for the bombing campaign, using U-2 spy planes and SR-71 Blackbird reconnaissance planes to gather information on North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong movements. The bombing campaign was supported by General Creighton Abrams and General William Westmoreland, who were commanding United States Forces in Vietnam.

Effects of the Bombing

The bombing campaign had significant effects on Cambodia and the Vietnam War. The bombing killed an estimated 150,000 to 500,000 Cambodian civilians, and displaced many more. The bombing also damaged Cambodian infrastructure, including roads, bridges, and buildings. The Khmer Rouge, a Cambodian communist organization, gained support and strength as a result of the bombing, and eventually seized power in Cambodia in 1975. The bombing campaign also had significant environmental effects, including the destruction of forests and wildlife habitats. The Mekong River and Tonle Sap Lake were also affected by the bombing, with many fish and other aquatic species killed or displaced. The bombing campaign was supported by Senator Barry Goldwater and Senator John Tower, but was opposed by Senator George McGovern and Senator Mark Hatfield.

International Reaction

The bombing campaign was widely criticized by the international community, including the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross. The Soviet Union and China condemned the bombing, and the North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong used the bombing as a propaganda tool to gain support from other communist countries. The Australian government and the Canadian government also criticized the bombing, and the British government expressed concerns about the effects of the bombing on Cambodian civilians. The French government had previously criticized the United States for its involvement in the Vietnam War, and the bombing campaign further strained relations between the two countries. The Pope Paul VI and the World Council of Churches also condemned the bombing, citing the humanitarian effects on Cambodian civilians.

Aftermath

The bombing campaign ended on August 15, 1973, after the United States Congress passed the Case-Church Amendment, which prohibited further United States military action in Cambodia without congressional approval. The Khmer Rouge seized power in Cambodia in 1975, and established a brutal regime that killed an estimated 1.7 to 2.2 million Cambodian people. The Vietnam War ended with the fall of Saigon in 1975, and the United States withdrew its troops from Vietnam. The bombing campaign was widely criticized as a violation of Cambodian sovereignty and a breach of international law, and it remains a controversial topic in United States foreign policy. The Church Committee and the Pike Committee investigated the bombing campaign, and the United States Senate held hearings on the effects of the bombing on Cambodian civilians. The Nuremberg Principles and the Geneva Conventions were cited as relevant international law, and the International Court of Justice was asked to consider the legality of the bombing campaign. Category:Vietnam War