This is a considered, detailed history of one of the bloodiest and most tragic attempts at social engineering in the twentieth century. Chandler's book will remain the definitive treatment of Cambodia since World War II.
Recounts the aetiology of current internal conflict in Cambodia, and sets out reasons why the USA should strongly support the proposal put forward by Australia, for establishing a UN-supervised interim administration. The key difficulty is Khmer Rouge compliance.
Vietnam's occupation of Cambodia poses problems for US foreign policy in the region. The USA should cease to take the lead from ASEAN and should pursue a policy taking greater care of US interests, in the light of the Soviet involvement in Vietnam (particularly at Cam Ranh). The USA must be pragmatic and move forward from policies based on the experience of the 1970s. Some normalization of relations with Vietnam is recommended. China's attitude may make all the difference to the solution of the Cambodian question, but the Chinese are seen as having such an interest in maintaining good relations with the USA that they would not jeopardize them for the sake of Cambodia.
Neither Lon Nol nor President Nixon has left Cambodians any alternative to armed struggle and revolution-a struggle and revolution whose object is to enable our people to regain their freedom, our nation to recover its dignity and our country to become independent again.
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