On this day, March 18, in 1969

During the Vietnam War, the US Air Force initiated Operation Menu, and began bombing the neutral nation of Cambodia. Despite Cambodia's official declaration of its neutrality, South Vietnamese Liberation troops often used Cambodia as a base. After being warned by the US to ban the South Vietnamese from their soil, the neutral country of Cambodia became the target for this massive secret bombing campaign under President Richard Nixon. Over the next 14 months, the US military showered more bombs on Cambodia than the total amount dropped by the Allies during all of World War Two. These brutal bombings were hidden from the American public, but the information eventually leaked out, provoking public outrage in the US. And then the government vowed to never bomb civilians again – oh no wait…