Was the US responsible for the Cambodian genocide?

However, related allegations from several sources, notably Michael Haas, that the U.S. directly armed the Khmer Rouge in order to weaken the influence of Vietnam and the Soviet Union in Southeast Asia have been disputed by the U.S. government and Nate Thayer, who argued that little, if any, American aid actually …

Why did the US bomb Cambodia in 1970?

The bombing of Cambodia was part of Nixon’s “madman theory” that was meant to intimidate North Vietnam by showing that he was a dangerous leader capable of anything. By seeking advice from high administration officials, Nixon had delayed any quick response that could be explicitly linked to the provocation.

How many bombs did the US drop on Cambodia?

The still-incomplete database (it has several “dark” periods) reveals that from October 4, 1965, to August 15, 1973, the United States dropped far more ordnance on Cambodia than was previously believed: 2,756,941 tons’ worth, dropped in 230,516 sorties on 113,716 sites.

When was the secret bombing of Cambodia?

March 18, 1969
Operation Menu/Start dates

What was the US reaction to the Cambodian genocide?

In Washington, US officials publicly denounced the atrocities. People who had long distrusted US motives in Southeast Asia often dismissed these statements as lies or exaggeration, the propaganda of a government that had warned of a bloodbath.

Was the US ever at war with Cambodia?

In 1969, the US air war against Cambodia escalated drastically as part of Nixon’s Vietnamization policy. The goal was to wipe out Vietnamese communist forces located in Cambodia in order to protect the US-backed government of South Vietnam and US forces stationed there.

How many Americans were killed in Cambodia?

Cambodian casualties: 50,000–150,000 (per Ben Kiernan, other estimates vary widely) This figure refers to the entirety of the U.S. bombing of Cambodia, including the Operation Menu bombings.