How a film influenced Nixon's decision to invade Cambodia

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How a film influenced Nixon's decision to invade Cambodia

Post by CEOCambodiaNews »

Opinion piece from the Japan Times.

How a film influenced Nixon's decision to invade Cambodia
by Franz-stefan Gady
Feb 25, 2019
NEW YORK - In April 1970, U.S. President Richard Nixon decided to expand the Vietnam War into neutral Cambodia in order to destroy the People’s Army of Vietnam and communist insurgents (the Viet Cong), around 40,000 troops in total. During the preceding decade, the communists had established bases of operations in the eastern part of the country from which they repeatedly launched cross-border incursions into South Vietnam, a U.S. client state.

Nixon’s goal of the subsequent aerial bombardment and invasion by both the U.S. military and the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) was to buy breathing space for the South Vietnamese government, as the United States had begun the gradual withdrawal of combat troops, by decisively defeating the North’s forces in eastern Cambodia and disrupting their supply lines.

The military operations, which took place from April to July 1970, were a tactical success for the Americans and South Vietnam, but ultimately proved indecisive. Over 330 Americans were killed and more than 1,500 wounded. The South Vietnamese suffered over 4,000 casualties, whereas enemy killed in action (KIA) were estimated at over 14,000 (the number most likely included civilians casualties).

Nixon was the driving force behind the decision to attack neutral Cambodia. Why did he push for military escalation? Surprisingly, the answer might lie in an American epic biographical war film...

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/20 ... HSKkdJS_IU
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fax
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Re: How a film influenced Nixon's decision to invade Cambodia

Post by fax »

CEOCambodiaNews wrote: Tue Feb 26, 2019 7:42 am the communists had established bases of operations in the eastern part of the country from which they repeatedly launched cross-border incursions into South Vietnam, a U.S. client state.
Isn't this a disputed claim with practically no evidence to prove it?
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Re: How a film influenced Nixon's decision to invade Cambodia

Post by Stinkman »

Deep Throat? Was it Deep Throat?
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Re: How a film influenced Nixon's decision to invade Cambodia

Post by frank lee bent »

Nixon was mentally ill and completely controlled by Kissinger.
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Re: How a film influenced Nixon's decision to invade Cambodia

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frank lee bent wrote: Tue Feb 26, 2019 8:52 am Nixon was mentally ill and completely controlled by Kissinger.
I note you have not mentioned Bush, Bush and Trump.
Cambodia,,,, Don't fall in love with her.
Like the spoilt child she is, she will not be happy till she destroys herself from within and breaks your heart.
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Re: How a film influenced Nixon's decision to invade Cambodia

Post by frank lee bent »

trying to stay OT
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Re: How a film influenced Nixon's decision to invade Cambodia

Post by Spigzy »

From the great Ken Burns' Vietnam documentary & assorted reading, my understanding is that the "Viet Cong" had a part of the Ho Chi Minh trail going through the remote north eastern part of Cambodia and into mid-west Vietnam. I wasn't aware of any bases, perhaps staging posts or refueling points, but the point of attacking that part of Cambodia was to neutralise one route of the Ho Chi Minh trail; not to "Invade Cambodia".
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Re: How a film influenced Nixon's decision to invade Cambodia

Post by Duncan »

http://rabble.ca/sites/rabble/files/nod ... mb6573.JPG


Some of those bomb sites look a bit far from the Vietnam / Cambodian border .
Cambodia,,,, Don't fall in love with her.
Like the spoilt child she is, she will not be happy till she destroys herself from within and breaks your heart.
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Re: How a film influenced Nixon's decision to invade Cambodia

Post by John Bingham »

fax wrote: Tue Feb 26, 2019 8:33 am
CEOCambodiaNews wrote: Tue Feb 26, 2019 7:42 am the communists had established bases of operations in the eastern part of the country from which they repeatedly launched cross-border incursions into South Vietnam, a U.S. client state.
Isn't this a disputed claim with practically no evidence to prove it?
I don't think there is any dispute about it. The bases were the reason for the US incursion which pushed the PAVN and NLF troops further into the interior, and they then established a major base at Kratie city.
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Re: How a film influenced Nixon's decision to invade Cambodia

Post by Sherman's mate »

frank lee bent wrote: Tue Feb 26, 2019 8:52 am Nixon was mentally ill and completely controlled by Kissinger.
https://nsarchive2.gwu.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB123/index.htm#1
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