Blowback S5 Episode 7 - "Less Than Zero"
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Jan 24, 2025 Explore the grim takeover of Cambodia by the Khmer Rouge, marked by chaos and execution. Delve into Mao’s chilling influence over Pol Pot, revealing power dynamics between these leaders. Discover the plight of Cambodians during this dark era, from forced labor to societal collapse. Examine Prince Sihanouk's tragic role, celebrated yet imprisoned, as well as the complex international relations with Vietnam and China that shaped the region's fate. Uncover the political manipulations surrounding American POWs from the Vietnam War, enriching the narrative of survival and despair.
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Mao's Unheeded Advice
- Pol Pot met Chairman Mao in 1975, but their conversation was one-sided.
- Mao offered Pol Pot books and advised him to abandon extremism, but Pol Pot remained unpersuaded.
Year Zero and Its Implications
- The Khmer Rouge's Year Zero policies aimed to erase Cambodia's past.
- This involved emptying cities, forced labor, and isolating the country.
The Fall of Phnom Penh
- During the Khmer Rouge takeover, Long Borat, a former government official, was captured and executed.
- The chaotic arrival of the Khmer Rouge coincided with the Cambodian New Year.