What did President Nixon do to give the appearance he was expanding the Vietnam War rather than trying to get America out of it

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therealmeeeee · Answer

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wwhitlock · Answer

Operation Menu was the secret bombing of Viet Cong sanctuaries in Cambodia and Laos. The sanctuaries were established by the North Vietnamese to resupply and rest Viet Cong soldiers who would attack South Vietnam. The unique shape of the two Vietnams  and the inability of  the Cambodian government to defend it's borders made Cambodia a perfect place for the VC to run and hide.

Bombing these mini VC bases was a key step toward getting the North to negotiate peace over the next 2 years.

The bombings started in March of 1969 and went through May of 1970. Nixon and Secretary of State Henry Kissinger kept the bombing secret because of the perception that it was expanding the war. Indeed, when Nixon publicly acknowledged the bombings brought on a national student strike against the war. The Kent State shooting was part of the protest.