The Rather Unofficial History of Cambodia 1970-1980

Okay, so in 60s U.S. goes into Vietnam because N. Vietnam (separated at skinny bit) is Communist, and they believe in the super dumb Domino Theory. That's exactly what it sounds like. "Oh emm gee, countries are just like inanimate game pieces."

But after much bloodshed and stupidity the U.S. loses.

That is, they pull out and N. Vietnam takes over S. Vietnam.

Which is what they were trying to avoid.

But! Before that happens, Johnson is ABSOLUTELY POSITIVE that N. Vietnamese are hiding in Cambodia. So he helps install a corrupt, useless U.S.-friendly gov't in Cambodia, and proceeds to bomb the heck out of the countryside.

Because that's where the super poor citizens live, and no one will miss them...I mean, that's where the Communists are hiding.

Whatever, it's dumb.

But this bombing helps bring ordinary Cambodians to the side of the Khmer Rouge, which are a revolutionary (Communist) group that wants to overthrow the corrupt U.S.-friendly gov't.

Which they finally do, in 1975, two years after the U.S. has left Vietnam.

Over the next three years their crazy leader Pol Pot leads a systematic extermination of Buddhists, intellectuals, Vietnamese (in Cambodia), etc. etc. The sources are mainly refugees, nothing official, but the world definitely knows there's mass killing happening, if not exact numbers.

The U.S. doesn't want to interfere, because as they see it it's Communists killing themselves, and Asia, and they got all sorts of flak the first time around. The Khmer Rouge is also backed by China, who they're trying to cozy up to, and don't want to piss off. So two million people are murdered or starve to death over a three year period. Of a population of seven million. And the only reason it stops is because the KR start scuffling with (Communist, Soviet-backed) Vietnam, and Vietnam gets pissed off and invades.

They invade, and reveal mass graves and torture facilities, and mass starvation and burned villages, etc. etc.

And the U.S. says "Um. We don't like you. You're Communist, and we hate the Soviets and are trying to get in with the Chinese. So...aside from all the people-killing and genocide and stuff... we'd prefer you to leave Cambodia and give it back to the Khmer Rouge. In fact, we're going to provide them with aid."

The guerilla revolutionary group that had already murdered TWO MILLION PEOPLE.

And because the Cambodian citizens had a Vietnamese puppet gov't, the U.S. refused to give THEM aid.

The starving people.

Instead they asked China to provide the Khmer Rouge with military support.

The guerilla revolutionary group that had already murdered TWO MILLION PEOPLE.

Yeah...how exactly are we a bastion of democracy and good will?