The Genesis of U.S. Involvement in Cambodia

In August 1964, President Lyndon Johnson announced military action against North Vietnam, a decision that was met with private skepticism regarding the legitimacy of the attacks. This skepticism foreshadowed a pattern of U.S. involvement based on questionable provocations, leading to hidden operations and subsequent escalations in neighboring Cambodia. National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger and President Nixon later initiated a secret bombing campaign targeting Vietnamese forces in Cambodia, a move that ultimately catalyzed a broader conflict. This military engagement underlined a crucial aspect of American foreign policy; decisions were often made with political expedience, resulting in devastating consequences for countries like Cambodia.