So I just watched this documentary on Cambodia, and the rise of the Khmer Rouge.
Basically, here's what happened: the United States decided that the government of Cambodia needed to go, because it was supporting people they didnt' like (in this case, the Viet Cong). So they engineered a coup and overthrew them, replacing that government with one more in line with the United States' interests. But that government was hated by the people, who resisted it. It also created a situation of great chaos that benefited that group the US was supposed to be fighting. So they had to intervene even more directly in, by intense bombing, which made the situation even worse. So a group called the Khmer Rouge, which had been a tiny, insignificant group, took over, and proceeded to kill a quarter of the population.
Boy, I'm glad there's no parallels to anything going on with the US military these days.
Basically, here's what happened: the United States decided that the government of Cambodia needed to go, because it was supporting people they didnt' like (in this case, the Viet Cong). So they engineered a coup and overthrew them, replacing that government with one more in line with the United States' interests. But that government was hated by the people, who resisted it. It also created a situation of great chaos that benefited that group the US was supposed to be fighting. So they had to intervene even more directly in, by intense bombing, which made the situation even worse. So a group called the Khmer Rouge, which had been a tiny, insignificant group, took over, and proceeded to kill a quarter of the population.
Boy, I'm glad there's no parallels to anything going on with the US military these days.
Afghanistan and Iraq are sooooo unstable now....