Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Pentagon papers finally released

Prince Norodom Sihanouk and Jacqueline Kennedy at Chamkarmon Palace during her visit to Cambodia in November of 1967. (Photo by: Ambassador Julio A. Jeldres Private Photo Collection)

Wednesday, 15 June 2011
Thomas Miller
The Phnom Penh Post

THE United States government has released the full version of the Pentagon Papers, a once top-secret report that details US actions in countries including Cambodia as the Vietnam conflict escalated and was leaked in partial form 40 years ago.

The US National Archives declassified the report on Monday, 40 years after the New York Times published selections leaked by Daniel Ellsberg, who worked on part of the study with the Defence Department. Ellsberg had tried to leak the documents to the Senate in the hope that it would convene hearings on the war.

Some 2,384 pages, or about 34 percent of the original 7,000-page report, have been released publicly for the first time, the National Archives said in a statement.

The report was commissioned by US defence secretary Robert McNamara and catalogues US policy-making in Indochina from 1945 to 1967.


The leak showed that four successive American presidents had misled their citizens about US policy in Southeast Asia, as they spoke publicly of restraint while simultaneously expanding US commitments in the region.

The report also exposed the involvement of the Kennedy Administration in the 1963 coup d’etat that led to the assassination of South Vietnamese President Ngo Dinh Diem, President Lyndon Johnson’s approval to bomb North Vietnam and decisions to expand military operations from Southern Vietnam into Cambodia and Laos.

Among other topics, officials raised concern over the stationing of North Vietnamese troops in the Kingdom and debated how to disrupt the Ho Chi Minh trail, which was used as a supply route between North Vietnam and Cambodia, Laos and South Vietnam.

Historian David Chandler, an expert on Cambodia who served as a US diplomat in Phnom Penh in the early 1960s, said it was “very exciting” when the papers came out.

“It was a good move. I approved of what Ellsberg was doing,” he recalled.

Chandler said the information contained in the report wasn’t “wildly surprising” at the time for those closely studying the region, though its leak may have been the most significant breach of US government secrecy in American history, igniting a battle at the Supreme Court and an eventual victory for press freedom.

The National Archives said that the newspaper and magazine releases from Ellsberg’s leak contained “only a very small portion” of the complete papers, and Monday’s release marks the first time they have been available in full.

“The fact of the matter is that no one, outside the people properly cleared to view Top Secret, has seen the real Pentagon Papers,” the agency said in a statement. About two-thirds have been made available previously, as US Senator Mike Gravel published portions in 1971 and US the State Department declassified an additional section in 2002.

Chandler said he had not yet trawled through the final version of the documents that was released on Monday, but did not expect any “surprises” for Cambodia, noting that the most controversial US actions toward the Kingdom came under President Richard Nixon, who approved the infamous bombing campaign that released at least half a million tons of bombs in Cambodia from 1969 to 1973.

Though Cambodia is less of a concern in the papers, the documents do show that trying to eliminate Northern Vietnam’s use of both Cambodia and Laos for supply routes and military operations was a persistent challenge for US policymakers.

One internal document from the Kennedy Administration contained in the papers shows that officials had raised alarm over the issue at least as early as December 1962. A US State Department official says in the document that Northern Vietnamese forces had been using Eastern Cambodia as a base from which to stage hit-and-run attacks in Southern Vietnam since 1960.

On numerous occasions, military officials called for “hot pursuit” of Northern Vietnamese forces into Cambodian territory. A 1967 document reveals pressure within the US government for Johnson to expand the Vietnam War into neighbouring countries, presaging the devastating consequences Cambodia would endure as it was dragged further into the conflict.

“The military had once again confronted the Johnson Administration with a difficult question on whether to escalate or level-off the US effort. What they proposed was the mobilization of the Reserves, a major new troop commitment in the South, an extension of the war into the VC/NVA [Viet Cong/North Vietnam] sanctuaries (Laos, Cambodia, and possibly North Vietnam) the mining of North Vietnamese ports and a solid commitment in manpower and resources to a military victory,” the US document states.

“The recommendation [from the military] not surprisingly touched off a searching reappraisal of the course of US strategy in the war.”

ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY KRISTIN LYNCH

27 comments:

Anonymous said...

អោយតែលឺឈ្មោះ ស្តាចមន៏ត្រសក់ សីហនុ

ព្រឺរោម នឹកដល់ព្រៃម៉ាគី និង ក្រុម ពលពត

ហ៊ុនសែន និងតាមងហា

Anonymous said...

Did he offer the silver dildo?

Anonymous said...

ar-chouy-mray shihanuk ..... i am going to kill all your family that my plain and all ar-hun sen new generation i'll do anything to kill and show to the world believe or not

Anonymous said...

ហ៊ុនសែន ជាស៊ីម ហេងសំរិន កើតចេញពីជើងខោរ អាស្តាចមន៏ ត្រសក់សីហនុ

Anonymous said...

សីហនុ ថា ចាស់ហើយ អត់មានកំលាំងទៅបកស្រាយ រឿងពលពត ដែលវាបង្កើតឡើងទេ

មានតែកំលាំងទុកច្រឿង ខារាអូខេ

សីហនុ ជិតចេញ វ៉ុលថ្មីហើយ

Anonymous said...

You have been listening to American says too much and no idea why he hated him for.

What a pathetic you are!

Anonymous said...

I can't believe reading these type of savage comments. Are these people related to the KR by genes or by attitude. Don't tell me that they are living in the USA.

Anonymous said...

សីហនុ បិតា ព្រៃម៉ាគី ពលពត និងបំផ្លាញខ្មែរ

Anonymous said...

សីហនុ បាតដៃប្រឡាក់ឈាម ខ្មែរ ៣ លាននាក់

Anonymous said...

សីហនុ ពលពត និង យួនយៀកកុង គឺតែមួយ

Anonymous said...

Mr Sam Rainsy, Why don't sue PM Hun Sen as you promise to us Cambodian people and your true supporters?

Are you tried to bargain with PM Hun Sen again like 2005 lawsuit at America??? Why?? Why??

We want to see Mr Sam Rainsy act as he said to sue PM Hun Sen in every democracy Countries court of justice around the world.

We want the results as transparency, from your progress in suing PM Hun Sen in every court of justices!!!

We are Cambodian people afraid that you are just using the lawsuit to scare PM Hun Sen than when PM Hun Sen gives you (Mr Sam Rainsy) green light. You again, hang your Lawsuit like 2005.

Mr Sam Rainsy, You must do as you said, otherwise you the same as Mr Kim Soka.

Mr Sam Rainsy, where are your law suit VS Hun SEn in America Court of justice? We want to see and hear the stories transparency because we afraid that you are just try to bargain with Hun Sen like 2005 again.

We Cambodian people as well as your supporters are waiting to see your real action in suing PM Hun Sen (In America Court of justice, all countries’ court of justice in Europe, Japan Court of justice, Australia Court of justice, New Zealand court of justice, Canada court of Justice, UN court of justice, World Human Right court of justice, NATO court of justice…) as you Mr Sam Rainsy said.

Mr Sam Rainsy must do as you said OK. Don’t you dare to bargain with PM Hun Sen like 2005 again?

May be you can’t be Prime Minister of Cambodia because of unfair election as 5-6 million Vietnamese votes for Hun Sen and Hun Sen add up his cheating skill in election but you can be a great Khmer Hero by suing PM Hun Sen about the facts that he has done to Cambodia and Cambodian people so far.

Can’t be Prime Miniter due unfair election all the times but Mr Sam Rainsy can gives a great stain to PM Hun Sen and CPP Vietnam slave about their crimes against Cambodian people since 1970 until today.

Anonymous said...

The origin of the dark years of Cambodia. It's well A Sihanouk. He is the king of the destruction of the Khmer people. And after, Hun Sen, Heng Samrin, Chea Sim, Hor Nam Hong, Sok An, Om Yieng Tieang, Khieu Kagnarith, and Clans etc...

Anonymous said...

4:33 PM
later he will sue, step by step... កុំ
មាត់នៅឲ្យស្ងៀម កុំអន្ទះសារពេក​ ទុកឲ្យមេដោះ
ស្រាយ។

Anonymous said...

4:33 PM

You can start by donating him a lot of money to pay the lawyers to do the work according to your suggestions in all the countries you mentioned.
If you want to help him don’t just talk you have to act too.

Anonymous said...

This Ex king was a khmer rough leader too. Why don't khmer rough court do any thing as? That is real unfair for the victims.

The victims are protesting from the graves.

Anonymous said...

We are cambodian people around the world will support Mr Sam Rainsy in every fund riasing even!

Please hide good lawers, we will support you in fund riasing!!!

Anonymous said...

Mr Sam Rainsy, Why don't you sue PM Hun Sen as you promise to us Cambodian people and your true supporters?

Are you tried to bargain with PM Hun Sen again like 2005 lawsuit at America??? Why?? Why??

We want to see Mr Sam Rainsy act as he said to sue PM Hun Sen in every democracy Countries court of justice around the world.

We want the results as transparency, from your progress in suing PM Hun Sen in every court of justices!!!

We are Cambodian people afraid that you are just using the lawsuit to scare PM Hun Sen than when PM Hun Sen gives you (Mr Sam Rainsy) green light. You again, hang your Lawsuit like 2005.

Mr Sam Rainsy, You must do as you said, otherwise you the same as Mr Kim Soka.

Mr Sam Rainsy, where are your law suit VS Hun SEn in America Court of justice? We want to see and hear the stories transparency because we afraid that you are just try to bargain with Hun Sen like 2005 again.

We Cambodian people as well as your supporters are waiting to see your real action in suing PM Hun Sen (In America Court of justice, all countries’ court of justice in Europe, Japan Court of justice, Australia Court of justice, New Zealand court of justice, Canada court of Justice, UN court of justice, World Human Right court of justice, NATO court of justice…) as you Mr Sam Rainsy said.

Mr Sam Rainsy must do as you said OK. Don’t you dare to bargain with PM Hun Sen like 2005 again?

May be you can’t be Prime Minister of Cambodia because of unfair election as 5-6 million Vietnamese votes for Hun Sen and Hun Sen add up his cheating skill in every election but you can be a great Khmer Hero by suing PM Hun Sen about the facts that he has done to Cambodia and Cambodian people so far.

You Can’t be Prime Miniter due unfair election all the times but Mr Sam Rainsy, you can gives a great stain to PM Hun Sen and CPP Vietnam slave about their crimes against Cambodian people since 1970 until today.

Anonymous said...

Fucken King, he is a slave of vietnam'slave. He sells out all Cambodian people life as chicken or pigs. He is only care about his king size condom lifesyle. He is not difference from Prince Ranaridth PhD of Law from France that betray all his supporters that died for his sake. Prince Ranaridth is a prince of lie and betray in the world history pages.

Unlike King or queen of England that they are not even afraid of Germany Hitler bombs. The queen was stay with her people during World War 2. The queen dare to died to protect her nation spirit and people believe. All England princes and princess are willing to sacrify their life for their country and people.

What is the king of Cambodia has done so far ? The Ex king was revenge without caring of how many khmer people died and he joined KHMER Rough and provoke khmer to believe in him. After, 3 millions of Cambodian people have died of his course. He started blame games, shift blame games, He is the the king and the leader who has no responsible for his action. He arn't khmer young generation role model in leadership at all.

Anonymous said...

thank god, these are all history now! cambodia is now looking forward into the brighter and better future, etc, you know! i think it's good that god made every human being not to live forever because imagine if they can live forever, they continue to not change or reform, etc... let's pray that the next khmer leader will be a lot more smart, clever, enlightened, educated, and so forth. cambodia need a good leader (s) to take our country into a better future and development, etc, etc... nothing personal, we want a better leader, that's all!

Anonymous said...

Since 1960 and up to now what
Sihanouk has had done to Cambodia
and Cambodians;now Khmer people
knew well what he treated them.
Sihanouk was/is evil king in Khmer
history.He served north Vietnam
as well as China.He did not finish
high school in Saigon,South Vietnam.
He became king of Cambodia in 1941,
when he was 18 years old.
The old generation never even knew
what Sihanouk treated them,but the
new generation should find out how
get rid of the evil Vietnam causing by the evil king,Sihanouk.
Sihanouk stayed short times in
Cambodia,but long period of times
in China.Why?

Anonymous said...

I hope our Khmers today be more educated then being stupit!

Swearing at someone for nothing is not solving any problem.

Whoever swearing at the King Sihanouk here, that person is being so uneducated. Whatelse that person could do better then accusing Sihanout? Tell me something you have/had done for your country.
You think your father could do better?
Sorry about my bad English

Anonymous said...

America abandoned Cambodia was not because it lost the Vietnam war. There was something which it never reveal to the the Americans public.

During that time there was big conflict between the state of Israel and Arab states in the Middle East.

The cold war made many countries took side, weapons were easily get by the Arab states from the Soviet to eliminate Israel.

Soviet was also helping North Vietnam to fight the Americans.

Fighting two wars in Vietnam and the Middle East was not good for America.

Israel was more important than the Vietnam war.

The American administration made a secret with the Soviet at that time to withdraw its troops from Vietnam in exchange that the Soviet promised not to supply weapons to the Arabs in the Middle East to eliminate Israel.

Israel was saved at the expenses of Cambodia.

Anonymous said...

Now I can tell that this person is mored educated then the one swearing at King Sihanouk.

He or she here, did more research. I knew this too. That is good. Don't just throw comments into this page to wast the space. The comment should be more like historical or educational text for the next generation to make decision and judge.

Whoever wrote article about United States and Vietnam War here respectable.

Thanks

Anonymous said...

7:39 PM
អញប្រាប់ថា កុំអន្ទះសារពេក រឿងនេះទុកឲ្យមេជា
អ្នកដោះស្រាយ សន្សឹមៗ កុំមាត់ទុកមាត់ស៊ីអាចម៏។

Anonymous said...

the woman in the back of the picture was so beautiful! who's she?

Anonymous said...

This stupid king has never been a good king for our nation ever since the beginning. In fact he was a playboy mentioned by himself on youtube. He should be hang to death just like other criminals or at least like those victims whom he ordered to killed during he took on the power. Why is Hun Sen still being so blind, he should eliminate this old fart clan now before history repeat itself. What happen if this stupid orders someone to kill Hun Sen or his son?. Think, think and think Hun Sen, it is called prevent then cued. So, why are our khmer people so slow in understanding who are the criminals these? Geee, I am sick to see this stupid king and his family getting away from it all. My extended families are all gone, dead and why can't we eliminate them all too?

Anonymous said...

Hay my friend! Please tell me one good thing you and your family had done for our country in term of politic.

Please tell me, one hero from your point of view, whom you were inspired by.

If you could not recall one for me, there must be something wrong in your mine now.

Thanks