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Why did Laos get involved in the Vietnam War?
The US became involved in Laos in the early 1960s, in order to prevent the Viet Cong using Laotian territory for bases and supplies. US planes bombed Laos extensively between 1964 and 1973. 5. The cessation of US bombing in 1973 allowed the Pathet Lao to tighten its grip on Laos.
Why was Cambodia involved in the Vietnam War?
The War started because Cambodia repeatedly invaded Vietnam, attempting to retake the Mekong River Delta. The country felt the area belonged to them and continuously raided Vietnamese areas on the border. Also, the Cambodian troops exterminated the Vietnamese living within Cambodia.
When did Laos get involved in the Vietnam War?
By the late 1950s, a large area of eastern Laos was controlled by the Pathet Lao, along with North Vietnamese forces who had crossed the border to lend support. For almost nine years Laos was a battlefield in the armed conflict between neighbouring North Vietnam and the United States.
Did Laos and Cambodia used to be part of Vietnam?
Indochina, also called (until 1950) French Indochina or French Indochine Française, the three countries of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia formerly associated with France, first within its empire and later within the French Union.
Why did the US bomb Laos and Cambodia?
In March 1969, President Richard Nixon authorized secret bombing raids in Cambodia, a move that escalated opposition to the Vietnam War in Ohio and across the United States. He hoped that bombing supply routes in Cambodia would weaken the United States’ enemies. The bombing of Cambodia lasted until August 1973.
Why is Indochina called Indochina?
The term Indochina (originally Indo-China) was coined in the early nineteenth century, emphasizing the cultural influence of Indian and Chinese civilizations on the area. The term was later adopted as the name of the colony of French Indochina (today’s Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam).
Why was Laos bombed?
The bombings were part of the U.S. Secret War in Laos to support the Royal Lao Government against the Pathet Lao and to interdict traffic along the Ho Chi Minh Trail. The bombings destroyed many villages and displaced hundreds of thousands of Lao civilians during the nine-year period.
Why did the US invade Cambodia?
He announced his decision to launch American forces into Cambodia with the special objective of capturing COSVN, “the headquarters of the entire communist military operation in South Vietnam.” Nixon’s speech on national television on 30 April 1970 was called “vintage Nixon” by Kissinger.
Why did the US invade Cambodia and Laos?
Cambodian neutrality and military weakness made its territory a safe zone where PAVN/VC forces could establish bases for operations over the border. With the US shifting toward a policy of Vietnamization and withdrawal, it sought to shore up the South Vietnamese government by eliminating the cross-border threat.
What happened in Cambodia and Laos?
During 1970 and 1971, membership of the Khmer Rouge grew rapidly. Laos, another country bordering Vietnam, was also invaded by US troops. As with Cambodia, this action increased the support for the communists (Pathet Lao) and by 1973, they controlled most of the country.