1969–1971Reputable sourceWell documented
Nixon and Vietnamization
On the timeline · around 1969–1971 ·
What happened
President Richard Nixon began 'Vietnamization' — gradually withdrawing U.S. troops while building up South Vietnam's army — even as he secretly expanded bombing into neutral Cambodia to hit communist sanctuaries.
Why it matters
Nixon sought 'peace with honor,' but widening the war into Cambodia while claiming to end it deepened the credibility gap between the government and the public.
Sources
- Encyclopaedia Britannica. Vietnam War · Reputable source