US bombing and the fall of the Khmer Republic 1970-1975

To what extent was Pol Pot's rise due to US bombin

Spring 1970: Cambodia on verge of anarchy
Pro-Sihanouk demonstrations vs. rival gangs who ate livers and hearts of enemies.
NV and SV entered Cam without permission - encourage anti-Vt sentiment
100,000s of dead
300,000 ethnic Vt fled to Vt and Thailand
30,000 US and 50,000 ARVN forces invaded Cam -
US wanted to get rid of Comm sanctuaries in Cam before leaving; Nixon wanted to show they were still serious about commitment to Vt.
Comm activity near Phnom Penh - Nixon feared Cam would be lost if he didn't act
Felt must support Lon Nol as he was pro-American
Lon Nol's gov recieved nearly $2bil in US aid but US bombing destroyed large areas of Cam and killed and alienated Cams
NV stepped up activity - close cooperation with Khmer Rouge and exiled Sihanouk
Jan 1971 - Comms controlled half country
1972 - number of rebels opposing Lon Nol rose
By 1975 - Lon Nol's regime overthrown
Civil War atrocities committed by both sides

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1975: Pol Pot and Khmer Rouge overthrew them because:
Lon Nol regime unpopular, corrupt, incompetent
Communists well-organised, more determined + popular with poor
Comms supported by Sihanouk who superstitiuous peasants revered
Khmer Rouge assisted by Vietnamese Communists
SV dud great damage to Cam - hated
Ben Kiernan argued US destabilised both Sihanouk and Lon Nol regimes because of involvement in Vietnam

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1970 onwards: bombing attacks made peasants hate US --> Many forced to be refugees; 50,000 to 150,000 civilians killed by 3mil tons of US bombs (1969-1973)
Jan 1973: US leaves Indochina --> through Paris Peace Accords; Khmer Rouge launch great and successful offensive against Lon Nol's pro-American gov.

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