U.S. FAILURE LED TO THE CAMBODIA 'KILLING FIELDS'

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP87M00539R002904800030-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 18, 2009
• Sequence Number: 30
• Publication Date: March 9, 1985
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/12/29: CIA-RDP87M00539R002904800030-3
EXECUTIVE SECRETARIAT
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Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/12/29: CIA-RDP87M00539R002904800030-3
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/12/29: CIA-RDP87M00539R002904800030-3
SaturdaY The News 8 Courier/The tvening Poe , - - -
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pOBERT J. GOX, Asslstant
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Life ce D anti uu
fltMUR BARBARA S. WILLIAMS. Edits
M WILCOX. Editor HAMBERLAIN. Assistant Editor
Reliving a Cambodian experience..:
A Charleston resident paid a visit to the cinema
recently to see the award-winning film "The Kitting
Fields" and was transported back in time to the
two years he spent in Cambodia before the geno-
cidai Khmer Rouge ravaged the country. Jerry M.
Jackie, a former U.S. AID official, writes about his
experience.
U.S. failure led to the
Cambodia `killing fields'
Cartoons of the week
By JERRY M. JACKIS
Upon viewing the film "The Killing Fields" dealing with the tragic holocaust
of.Cambodia, I could not help but think of the two years I spent there from
1957 to 1959 while serving as an investigator for the Agency for International
Development. At that time, under the reign of Prince Norodom Sihanouk,
Cambodia was at peace. However, winds of change were beginning to stir, with
the communists on the one hand vying with the Free World for domination of,
not only Cambodia, but all of Southeast Asia.
I have to agree with Sydney Schanberg of The New York Times in the film
that the "secret" bombing of Cambodia was directly responsible for triggering
the insanity and, consequently, precipitating the murderous struggle between
the communist Khmer Rouge and the Cambodian government for the very soul
of Cambodia. But this explains only part of the tragic situation, because it does
not go back far enough in history to eventually tell us what happened in
Cambodia.
Back in 1957, Cambodia was a plum ready to be picked by either side. Some
200 Americans were stationed in the capital of Phnom Penh and working for
the U.S. government in various capacities for the State Department, Central
Intelligence Agency and the AID. We Americans had a golden opportunity to
win the hearts and minds of the Cambodian government and, more impor-
tantly, the Cambodian people. That we failed to do so is a historical fact. In
the ideological struggle we were found wanting and consequently, lost Cambo-
dia to the other side, thus bequeathing the mostly innocent Cambodian people
unspeakable horror, destruction and death.
bot? Sil thiiitti t
aumpy How did we allows.tragc suaono come
bout because the Americans did not give one hoot for Cambodia or its people.
rom personal observation, I found most Americans spending their time in-
ulging in mundane pursuits, as opposed to the struggle to keep Cambodia from
turning to communism. The atmosphere at the United States Embassy was one
I nonchalance and business as usual, with an utter lack of urgency. The
foremost priorities prevailing among the employees were partying in the eve-
ning and playing office politics during the day. Shopping for bargains at the
local market was pursued passionately and complaints aimed at the lack of
U.S, commodities at the commissary were often aired disgustedly. Vacationing
in Bangkok, Manila and Hong Kong were a must and the competition for
housing, china, and silver, fierce. Job security was guarded jealously, and one's
bank deposits, the main ingredient for being in Cambodia in the first instance,
were closely watched. Delay in one's automobile arriving late from the United
States would stir arguments in the general services office.
Is there any wonder in this atmosphere of self-indulgence that the Cambo-
dians realized that the Americans were not the kind of people they wanted to
emulate, or even support? Instead of winning friends with our generous eco-
nomic, cultural and military aid, as was our intent, the Cambodians lost heart
with the Americans and turned to the other side. And who could blame them?
What they eventually got, though, was more than they had bargained for.
The movie vividly depicts the horror that followed our departure, but the
root of the whole sad matter lies in the failures of the State Department, the
CIA and the AID officials who `failed miserably to do the job that they were
supposed to do, i.e. keep Cambodia in the Free World. For shame, for shame.
Mr. Jackie, who is a Citadel graduate and has retired to his native Cherlestun after teaching
English at university level in Korea, spent 20 years In government service, six of them in the Far
East. - --- . -
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/12/29: CIA-RDP87M00539R002904800030-3