CambodianIncursionAddress.doc

CambodianIncursionAddress RichardM.Nixon:CambodianIncursionAddress GoodeveningmyfellowAmericans.Tendaysago,inmyreporttothenationonVietnam,Iannouncedadecisiontowithdrawanadditional150,000AmericansfromVietnamoverthenextyear.IsaidthenthatIwasmakingthatdecisiondespiteourconcernoverincreasedenemyactivityinLaos,inCambodia,andinSouthVietnam.AndatthattimeIwarnedthatifIconcludedthatincreasedenemyactivityinanyoftheseareasendangeredthelivesofAmericansremaininginVietnam,Iwouldnothesitatetotakestrongandeffectivemeasurestodealwiththatsituation.Despitethatwarning,NorthVietnamhasincreaseditsmilitaryaggressioninalltheseareas,andparticularlyinCambodia. AfterfullconsultationwiththeNationalSecurityCouncil,AmbassadorBunker,GeneralAbramsandmyotheradvisors,Ihaveconcludedthattheactionsoftheenemyinthelast10daysclearlyendangerthelivesofAmericanswhoareinVietnamnowandwouldconstituteanunacceptablerisktothosewhowillbethereafterwithdrawalofanother150,000.ToprotectourmenwhoareinVietnam,andtoguaranteethecontinuedsuccessofourwithdrawalandVietnamizationprogram,Ihaveconcludedthatthetimehaseforaction. Tonight,Ishalldescribetheactionsoftheenemy,theactionsIhaveorderedtodealwiththatsituation,andthereasonsformydecision. CambodiaasmallcountryofsevenmillionpeoplehasbeenaneutralnationsincetheGenevaAgreementof1954,anagreement,incidentally,whichwassignedbythegovernmentofNorthVietnam.AmericanpolicysincethenhasbeentoscrupulouslyrespecttheneutralityoftheCambodianpeople.Wehavemaintainedaskeletondiplomaticmissionoffewerthan15inCambodiascapital,andthatonlysincelastAugust.Forthepreviousfouryears,from1965to1969,wedidnothaveanydiplomaticmissionwhateverinCambodia,andforthepastfiveyearswehaveprovidednomilitaryassistancewhateverandnoeconomicassistancetoCambodia. NorthVietnam,however,hasnotrespectedthatneutrality.Forthepastfiveyears,asindicatedonthismap,thatyouseehere,NorthVietnamhasoccupiedmilitarysanctuariesallalongtheCambodianfrontierwithSouthVietnam.Someoftheseextendupto20milesintoCambodia.Thesanctuariesareinred,andasyounote,theyareonbothsidesoftheborder.TheyareusedforhitandrunattacksonAmericanandSouthVietnameseforcesinSouthVietnam.TheseCommunistoccupiedterritoriescontainmajorbasecamps,trainingsites,logisticsfacilities,weaponsandammunitionfactories,airstrips,andprisonerofwarpounds. AndforfiveyearsneithertheUnitedStatesnorSouthVietnamhasmovedagainsttheseenemysanctuariesbecausewedidnotwishtoviolatetheterritoryofaneutralnation.EvenaftertheVietnameseCommunistsbegantoexpandthesesanctuariesfourweeksago,wecounseledpatiencetoourSouthVietnamesealliesandimposedrestraintsonourownmanders. Incontrasttoourpolicytheenemyinthepasttwoweekshassteppeduphisguerrillaactions,andheisconcentratinghismainforcesinthesesanctuariesthatyouseeinthismap,wheretheyarebuildinguptolaunchmassiveattacksonourforcesandthoseofSouthVietnam. NorthVietnaminthelasttwoweekshasstrippedawayallpretenseofrespectingthesovereigntyortheneutralityofCambodia.Thousandsoftheirsoldiersareinvadingthecountryfromthesanctuaries.TheyareencirclingthecapitalofPnompenh.Comingfromthesesanctuaries,asyouseehere,theyhadmovedintoCambodiaandareencirclingthecapital. Cambodia,asaresultofthis,hassentoutacalltotheUnitedStates,toanumberofothernations,forassistance.Becauseifthisenemyeffortsucceeds,CambodiawouldbeeavastenemystagingareaandaspringboardforattacksonSouthVietnamalong600milesoffrontier:arefugewhereenemytroopscouldreturnfrombatwithoutfearofretaliation.NorthVietnamesemenandsuppliescouldthenbepouredintothatcountry,jeopardizingnotonlythelivesofourownmenbutthepeopleofSouthVietnamaswell. Nowconfrontedwiththissituationwehadthreeoptions: First,wecandonothing.Welltheultimateresultofthatcourseofactionisclear.Unlessweindulgeinwishfulthinking,thelivesofAmericansremaininginVietnamafterournextwithdrawalof150,000wouldbegravelythreatened. Letusgotothemapagain. HereisSouthVietnam.HereisNorthVietnam.NorthVietnamalreadyoccupiesthispartofLaos.IfNorthVietnamalsooccupiedthiswholebandinCambodia,ortheentirecountry,itwouldmeanthatSouthVietnamwaspletelyoutflankedandtheforcesofAmericansinthisareaaswellastheSouthVietnamesewouldbeinanuntenablemilitaryposition. OursecondchoiceistoprovidemassivemilitaryassistancetoCambodiaitself.Nowunfortunately,whilewedeeplysympathizewiththeplightofsevenmillionCambodianswhosecountryhasbeeninvaded,massiveamountsofmilitaryassistancecouldnotberapidlyandeffectivelyutilizedbythissmallCambodianArmyagainsttheimmediatetrap.WithothernationsweshalldoourbesttoprovidethesmallarmsandotherequipmentwhichtheCambodianArmyof40,000needsandcanuseforitsdefense.ButtheaidwewillprovidewillbelimitedforthepurposeofenablingCambodiatodefenditsneutralityandnotforthepurposeofmakingitanactivebelligerentononesideortheother. Ourthirdchoiceistogototheheartofthetrouble.AndthatmeanscleaningoutmajorNorthVietnameseandVietcongoccupiedterritories,thesesanctuarieswhichserveasbasesforattacksonbothCambodiaandAmericanandSouthVietnameseforcesinSouthVietnam.Someofthese,incidentally,areasclosetoSaigonasBaltimoreistoWashington.Thisone,forexample,iscalledtheParrotsBeak.Itsonly33milesfromSaigon. Nowfacedwiththesethreeoptions,thisisthedecisionIhavemade.IncooperationwiththearmedforcesofSouthVietnam,attacksarebeinglaunchedthisweektocleanoutmajorenemysanctuariesontheCambodianVietnamborder.AmajorresponsibilityforthegroundoperationsisbeingassumedbySouthVietnameseforces. Forexample,theattacksinseveralareas,includingtheparrotsbeakthatIreferredtoamomentago,areexclusivelySouthVietnamesegroundoperations,underSouthVietnamesemand,withtheUnitedStatesprovidingairandlogisticalsupport.Thereisoneareahowever,immediatelyabovetheparrotsbeakwhereIhaveconcludedthatabinedAmericanandSouthVietnameseoperationisnecessary. Tonight,AmericanandSouthVietnameseunitswillattacktheheadquartersfortheentireCommunistmilitaryoperationinSouthVietnam.ThiskeycontrolcenterhasbeenoccupiedbytheNorthVietnameseandVietcongforfiveyearsinblatantviolationofCambodiasneutrality. ThisisnotaninvasionofCambodia.TheareasinwhichtheseattackswillbelaunchedarepletelyoccupiedandcontrolledbyNorthVietnameseforces.Ourpurposeisnottooccupytheareas.Onceenemyforcesaredrivenoutofthesesanctuaries,andoncetheirmilitarysuppliesaredestroyed,wewillwithdraw. Theseactionsareinnowaydirectedtosecurityinterestsofanynation.AnygovernmentthatchoosestousetheseactionsasapretextforharmingrelationswiththeUnitedStateswillbedoingsoonitsownresponsibilityandonitsowninitiative,andwewilldrawtheappropriateconclusions. Andnow,letmegiveyouthereasonsformydecision.AmajorityoftheAmericanpeople,amajorityofyoulisteningtomeareforthewithdrawalofourforcesfromVietnam.TheactionIhavetakentonightisindispensableforthecontinuingsuccessofthatwithdrawalprogram.AmajorityoftheAmericanpeoplewanttoendthiswarratherthantohaveitdragoninterminably.TheactionIhavetakentonightwillservethatpurpose.AmajorityoftheAmericanpeoplewanttokeepthecasualtiesofourbravemeninVietnamatanabsoluteminimum.TheactionItaketonightisessentialifwearetoacplishthatgoal. WetakethisactionnotforthepurposeofexpandingthewarintoCambodia,butforthepurposeofendingthewarinVietnam,andwinningthejustpeacewealldesire. Wehavemade,wewillcontinuetomakeeverypossibleefforttoendthiswarthroughnegotiationattheconferencetableratherthanthroughmorefightinginthebattlefield. Letslookagainattherecord. WestoppedthebombingofNorthVietnam.Wehavecutairoperationsbyover20percent.Weveannouncedthewithdrawalofover250,000ofourmen.Weveofferedtowithdrawallofourmeniftheywillwithdrawtheirs.Weveofferedtonegotiateallissueswithonlyonecondition:andthatisthatthefutureofSouthVietnambedetermined,notbyNorthVietnam,andnotbytheUnitedStates,butbythepeopleofSouthVietnamthemselves. Theansweroftheenemyhasbeenintransigenceattheconferencetable,belligerenceatHanoi,massivemilitaryaggressioninLaosandCambodiaandsteppedupattacksinSouthVietnamdesignedtoincreaseAmericancasualties. Thisattitudehasbeeintolerable. WewillnotreacttothisthreattoAmericanlivesmerelybyplaintive,diplomaticprotests. Ifwedid,thecredibilityoftheUnitedStateswouldbedestroyedineveryareaoftheworldwhereonlythepoweroftheUnitedStatesdetersaggression. Tonight,IagainwarntheNorthVietnamesethatiftheycontinuetoescalatethefightingwhentheUnitedStatesiswithdrawingitsforces,IshallmeetmyresponsibilityasmanderinchiefofourarmedforcestotaketheactionIconsidernecessarytodefendthesecurityofourAmericanmen. TheactionIhaveannouncedtonightputstheleadersofNorthVietnamonnoticethatwewillbepatientinworkingforpeace.Wewillbeconciliatoryattheconferencetable. Butwewillnotbehumiliated. Wewillnotbedefeated. WewillnotallowAmericanmen,bythethousands,tobekilledbyanenemyfromprivilegedsanctuaries. Thetimecamelongagotoendthiswarthroughpeacefulnegotiations.Westandreadyforthosenegotiations.Wevemademajorefforts,manyofwhichmustremainsecret.IsaytonightalltheoffersandapproachesmadepreviouslyremainontheconferencetablewheneverHanoiisreadytonegotiateseriously.Butiftheenemyresponsetoourmostconciliatoryoffersforpeacefulnegotiationcontinuestobetoincreaseitsattacksandhumiliateanddefeatus,weshallreactaccordingly. MyfellowAmericans,weliveinanageofanarchy,bothabroadandathome.Weseemindlessattacksonallthegreatinstitutionswhichhavebeencreatedbyfreecivilizationsinthelast500years.EvenhereintheUnitedStates,greatuniversitiesarebeingsystematicallydestroyed. Smallnationsallovertheworldfindthemselvesunderattackfromwithinandfromwithout.If,whenthechipsaredown,theworldsmostpowerfulnationtheUnitedStatesofAmericaactslikeapitiful,helplessgiant,theforcesoftotalitarianismandanarchywillthreatenfreenationsandfreeinstitutionsthroughouttheworld. Itisnotourpower,butourwillandcharacterthatisbeingtestedtonight. ThequestionallAmericansmustaskandanswertonightisthis:Doestherichestandstrongestnationinthehistoryoftheworldhavethecharactertomeetadirectchallengebyagroupwhichrejectseveryefforttowinajustpeace,ignoresourwarning,tramplesonsolemnagreements,violatestheneutralityofanunarmedpeople,andusesourprisonersashostages?Ifwefailtomeetthischallenge,allothernationswillbeonnoticethatdespiteitsoverwhelmingpowertheUnitedStateswhenarealcrisiseswillbefoundwanting. DuringmycampaignforthePresidency,IpledgedtobringAmericanshomeformVietnam.Theyareinghome.Ipromisedtoendthiswar.Ishallkeepthatpromise.Ipromisedtowinajustpeace.Ishallkeepthatpromise.Weshallavoidawiderwar,butwearealsodeterminedtoputanendtothiswar. Inthisroom,WoodrowWilsonmadethegreatdecisionswhichledtovictoryinWorldWarI.FranklinRooseveltmadethedecisionswhichledtoourvictoryinWorldWarII.DwightD.EisenhowermadedecisionswhichendedthewarinKoreaandavoidedwarintheMiddleEast.JohnF.Kennedy,inhisfinesthour,madethegreatdecisionwhichremovedSovietnuclearmissilesfromCubaandthewesternhemisphere. IhavenotedthattheresbeenagreatdealofdiscussionwithregardtothisdecisionthatIhavemade.AndIshouldpointoutIdonotcontendthatitisinthesamemagnitudeasthesedecisionsthatIhavejustmentioned.Butbetweenthosedecisionsandthisdecision,thereisadifferencethatisveryfundamental.InthosedecisionstheAmericanpeoplewerenotassailedbycounselsofdoubtanddefeatfromsomeofthemostwidelyknownopinionleadersofthenation. Ihavenoted,forexample,thataRepublicanSenatorhassaidthatthisactionIhavetakenmeansthatmypartyhaslostallchanceofwinningtheNovemberelections.AndothersaresayingtodaythatthismoveagainstenemysanctuarieswillmakemeaonetermPresident. NooneismoreawarethanIamofthepoliticalconsequencesoftheactionIhavetaken.Itistemptingtotaketheeasypoliticalpath,toblamethiswaronpreviousAdministrations,andtobringallofourmenhomeimmediatelyregardlessoftheconsequences,eventhoughthatwouldmeandefeatfortheUnitedStates;todesert18millionSouthVietnamesepeoplewhohaveputtheirtrustinus;toexposethemtothesameslaughterandsavagerywhichtheleadersofNorthVietnaminflictedonhundredsofthousandsofNorthVietnamesewhochosefreedomwhentheCommuniststookoverNorthVietnamin1954. Togetpeaceatanypricenow,eventhoughIknowthatapeaceofhumiliationfortheUnitedStateswouldleadtoabiggerwarorsurrenderlater.Ihaverejectedallpoliticalconsiderationsinmakingthisdecision.WhethermypartygainsinNovemberisnothingparedtothe