Eisenhower and Cambodia : diplomacy, covert action, and the origins of the Second Indochina War / William J. Rust.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Rust, William J., author.

Series:

Studies in conflict, diplomacy, and peace

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Eisenhower, Dwight D. (Dwight David), 1890-1969--Influence.

Eisenhower, Dwight D.

Eisenhower, Dwight D. (Dwight David), 1890-1969.

International relations.

United States--Foreign relations--Cambodia.

United States.

Cambodia--Foreign relations--United States.

Cambodia.

United States--Foreign relations--1953-1961.

Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Causes.

Vietnam War, 1961-1975.

Diplomatic relations.

Influence (Literary, artistic, etc.).

War--Causes.

Physical Description:

vii, 348 pages, 12 unnumbered pages of plates ; 24 cm.

Place of Publication:

Lexington, Kentucky : The University Press of Kentucky, [2016]

Summary:

Although most Americans paid little attention to Cambodia during Dwight D. Eisenhower's presidency, the nation's proximity to China and the global ideological struggle with the Soviet Union guaranteed US vigilance throughout Southeast Asia. Cambodia's leader, Norodom Sihanouk, refused to take sides in the Cold War, a policy that disturbed US officials. From 1953 to 1961, his government avoided the political and military crises of neighboring Laos and South Vietnam. However, relations between Cambodia and the United States suffered a blow in 1959 when Sihanouk discovered CIA involvement in a plot to overthrow him. The coup, supported by South Vietnam and Thailand, was a failure that increased Sihanouk's power and prestige and created new foreign policy challenges in the region. In Eisenhower and Cambodia, William J. Rust examines the United States' efforts to lure Cambodia from neutrality to alliance during the 1950s. He conclusively demonstrates that, as with Laos in 1958 and 1960, covert intervention in the internal political affairs of neutral Cambodia proved to be a counterproductive tactic for advancing the United States' anticommunist goals. Drawing upon recently declassified sources, Rust skillfully traces the impact of "plausible deniability" on the formulation and execution of foreign policy. His meticulous study not only reveals a neglected chapter in Cold War history, but also illuminates the intellectual and political origins of US strategy in Vietnam and the often-hidden influence of intelligence operations in foreign affairs. Book jacket.

Contents:

Prologue: plausible denial

A shrewd move (1953-1954)

Not a happy omen

Time for further maneuvers

Irresponsible and mischievous actions

Change from the top

Many unpleasant and difficult things (1957-1958)

Numerous reports of plots

A shady matter (1958-1959)

Stupid moves (1959-1960)

Getting along with Sihanouk

Definite political problems (1960-1961)

Epilogue: forebodings and potential opposition.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9780813167428

0813167426

OCLC:

922632005