A Change of Guard

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Tuesday 16 August 2011

America owed Cambodians a moral debt

Op-Ed by Warrior Blood
16th August, 2011

Re: US Bombing of Cambodia—Still Counting the Dead [and the love-hate relationship between Hun Sen and the US]

America played a major role in the Khmer Rouge's takeover of the country, which ultimately killed over 2 million Cambodian, not to mention thousands killed by American bombings. Yet, the United States still continues to pursue debts that was incurred by the Lon Nol regime backed by the American insane policies.

While Cambodian paid with their sweat, bloods, tears, and innocent lives from the illegal bombings; for whatever the reasons, America found ways to twist Prime Minister Hun Sen to agree to take Cambodian deportees who were born along refugee camps. They were placed systematically in drug infested neighborhood in the United states, ended up on the wrong side of the law, paid for their crimes yet continued to be penalized regardless.

America also managed to put steak knife in the heart of poor Cambodia to repay the old debts while average Cambodians made $1-$2 per day. The world seem to treat poor countries unjustly yet it seems justifiable whenever America claimed it is a just cause. Where is the humanity? Where is justice for Cambodians? When Thai soldiers killed Cambodian refugees during the 80s along the Cambodia-Thai border while fleeing for their lives to survive; they were hunted down like dogs; America stood still closing its eyes.

In the recent Cambodia-Thai border conflict, America said "America will not take side", while Thai soldiers continued to slaughter Cambodian civilians for crossing the border illegally or burned alive for unknown crime. America did not see any human right violations in the Thai crimes against Khmers. However, America is fast to scream at China, Cambodia, Burma and others for having different ideology from the almighty America.

The Khmer Rouge Tribunal should subpoena some of the US presidents to testify but it is less likely that that will ever happen. Who is the court anyway to subpoena the almighty America? The world have to react when America sneezes. America now wanted to get involved in Southeast Asia once again after many decades of missing in action.

Cambodia recently discovered oil, gold and gas. There are many foreign investors flocking into Cambodia to get the piece of the pie. America started to put one foot in the door while furnishing its relationship with Cambodia's leaders. The main opposition party leader Sam Rainsy used to be friendly with America but recently America seem to have quietly withdrawn its support from the Cambodian opposition leader. Some wonder why? America is banking its relationship with Prime Minister Hun sen because he has fulfilled his duties when America asked him to perform.

Cambodia should be very careful in dealing with foreigners in extracting its natural resources. What is left for Cambodia once it's gone? What are the negative aspects for Cambodia? Cambodia needs to learn the history and embed the lessons taught by America and others in their head to never forget the past bitter history.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Regardless what the situation, Cambodia government must repay the debt to the U.S. The Cambodian government do have the money to repay. If you do not believe me, go to cambodia and look at the mansions in Tuol Kork
hamona hamoot

Anonymous said...

What had cause the US to bombed Cambodia at that time?
Can you explain the whole truth nothing, but the truth?

Anonymous said...

Where do you live, Warrior Blood?

I hope not in America!

The US had allowed thousands of Cambodian refugees including your own parents or family and helped them start their new lives in America.

That does not count at all?

The bombing of Cambodia was also requested or agreed upon then in silence by the then Cambodian government with the hope that many of the Vietcong and North Vietnamese military installations inside Cambodia could be destroyed since the government could not push them out militarily.

Do more research!

Anonymous said...

Warrior blood is an arm chair analyst.

Anonymous said...

Because of his unconditional love and support for Hun Sen, Warrior Blood forget about America's help to himself and his family and hundreds and thousands of Khmer families to live abundantly and happily in the land of the free. Now, he turned around and blamed everything on America. I hope he blames China and Vietnam as much as America for all the Cambodian sufferings. China and Vietnam created and supported the KR to murder more than 2 million Khmers, yet I never heard Warrior Blood blamed them, he only blamed America.

Anonymous said...

Based on the research I have done; according to the report in October 2006 by Taylor Owen and Ben Kiernan, "The Walrus". New information reveals that Cambodia was bombed far more heavily during the Vietnam War than previously believed-and that the bombing began not under Richard Nixon but under Lyndon Johnson. Dont get me wrong about America; Cambodian is thankful for America to sponsor them over to give them new life but the event will probably never happened if Cambodia didn't fall into the cold war conflict. Who was the major players during the cold war? You already know the answer. If you think America is clean from this astrocity then Cambodia has itself to blame and only countries such as Vietnam and China are to blame because it helped directly/indirectly push Pol Pot into spiral killing machine due to his insane policies "it rather lost innocent life then to make mistake to keep the enemy". What do you think America role? While America involved directly from the 1965 bombings, backed Lon Nol with the coup over King Sihanouk which led to Khmer Rouge taken over the country. I agree that Cambodia leaders cannot just blame other countries either and wash it hands clean; Cambodian leaders also responsible for directly involve in killing its own people. President Bill Clinton was the first president to visit Vietnam since Richard Nixon last visited to seek over 2000 American soldiers MIA. As a humanitarian gesture, Clinton released extensive Air Force data on all American bombing of Indochina between 1964 and 1975. The information was a gift from President Clinton intended for humanitarian to search for unexploded ordinance left behind durin the carpet bombing of the region. Littering the countryside, often submerged under the farmland, this ordnance remains significant safety concerns. The data revealed from October 4th, 1965 to August 15th, 1973, the United States dropped far more ordnance on Cambodia than was previously believed: 2,756,941 tons worth, dropped in 230,516 stories on 113,716 sites. Over 10 percents of this bombing was indiscriminate with 3,580 of the sites listed having "unknown" target and another 8,238 sites having no target listed at all. The database also shows that the bombing began four years earlier than it widely believed-not under Nixon, but under Lyndon Johnson. I guess noone can blame America because it helped sponsor Cambodian over. What about Japan, Australia, Canada, France and others that helped Cambodian into their countries? What responsibility do they have to cause destruction of Cambodia? Why they take Cambodian? Did they felt guilty or it was just mainly humanitirain to help another human being? These countries helped Cambodian because it was the right thing to do as human with concience that exists in this planet to help those desperately needed helps.

Anonymous said...

Don't all of you believe Cambodia is the poorest country any more ??

This is the word that use to classify Cambodia staus !!!

To be fair with Cambodian, we need to talk about the US Aid that benefited the former Lon Nol Army officiers !!!!

That where the money went !!!! Even the US knew this !

You can see how rich they are nowday !!

During that time the Aid/Loan did not benefit Cambodian at all !!!

I am not suprise some of these bloggers are related to former Lon Nol army officiers, that why some of them are so defensive !!!

Anonymous said...

The truth is bitter but it is the fact. Cambodian never forget how US sponsored them into United States and gave them new meaning of life. The matter of fact while we are on this subject; Cambodian were also sponsored by many countries not because they bomb Cambodia rather because of humanitarian efforts. For example, Japan, France, New Zealand, Canada, Australlia, and others did it because they wanted to help another human being from sufferings. US was not the only country that has christian value as claimed by many comments. Based on the report October 2006 "The Walrus" by Taylor Owen and Ben Kiernan, new information revealed that Cambodia was bombed for more heavily during the Vietnam War than previously believed-and that the bombing began not under Richard Nixon, but under Lyndon Johnson. President Clinton released Air Force data on all American bombing of Indochina between 1964 and 1975 was a gift of humanitarian efforts to assist in the search for unexploded ordnance left behind during the carpet bombing of the region. Littering the coutryside, often submerged under the farmland, this ordnance remains safety concerns throughout the countryside. The data revealed that from October 4, 1965 to August 15, 1973, the United States dropped far more ordnance on Cambodia than was previously beleived: 2,756,941 tons worth, dropped in 230,516 sorties on 113,716 sites. Just over 10 percent of this bombing was indiscriminate, with 3,580 of the sites listed as having "unknown" targets abd another 8,238 sites having no target listed at all. The impact of this bombing subject to debate for the past three decades, is now clearer than ever. Civillian casualties in Cambodia drove an enrage arm insugency setting in motion of the expansion of the Vietnam War deeper into Cambodia. You can say all you want about Warrior Blood but he shared his oppinion based on fact as I shared with all of you like he did.