Henry Kissinger’s Legacy: The Impact of Bombing Campaigns in Cambodia

Henry Kissinger, the former US secretary of state, is being remembered by many world leaders as a skilled diplomat and peacemaker. However, his legacy in Cambodia tells a different story. Kissinger and then-President Richard Nixon ordered secretive bombing raids on neutral Cambodia during the Vietnam War, resulting in devastating consequences for the Cambodian people. This article explores the impact of Kissinger’s bombing campaigns and their contribution to the rise of the Khmer Rouge regime and the loss of countless lives. Furthermore, it delves into the aftermath of the bombings, including the presence of unexploded American bombs and the lasting trauma experienced by the Cambodian population. While Kissinger may be celebrated by some, this article sheds light on the lasting damage caused by his actions in Cambodia.