Episode Details

Geoffrey Wawro, guest author, explains that in 1970, Nixon ordered an incursion into Cambodia to destroy NVA supply dumps and the Ho Chi Minh Trail extensions. While US forces captured significant materiel, the NVA simply withdrew deeper into the interior and rebuilt their supply lines shortly after the Americans left. This widening of the war triggered unprecedented domestic protests, most notably at Kent State, where National Guard troops killed four students. Despite the outcry, Nixon found support among the "Silent Majority" and working-class "hard hats" who loathed the anti-war movement. The Cambodian operation exemplified the mismatch between the US desire for a quick victory and the NVA's strategic patience. Ultimately, the incursion failed to cut the trail permanently as the NVA adapted by establishing new routes through Laos to compensate for the losses. The Vietnam War: A Military History (6)