In March 1969, the United States conducted air strikes against North Vietnamese sanctuaries in which country?

Prepare for the DSST History of the Vietnam War Test. Use flashcards and multiple choice questions with detailed hints and explanations. Ace your exam today!

Multiple Choice

In March 1969, the United States conducted air strikes against North Vietnamese sanctuaries in which country?

Explanation:
The key idea here is the U.S. practice of widening the war by striking sanctuary sites outside North Vietnam to disrupt the enemy’s logistics. In March 1969, Washington launched Operation Menu, a bombing campaign aimed at North Vietnamese sanctuaries inside Cambodia. The goal was to interdict supplies and troops moving along routes that fed into South Vietnam, including the Ho Chi Minh Trail. This is why Cambodia is the correct choice: the targets were sanctuary sites within Cambodian territory, not in Laos, Vietnam, or Thailand. Laos had its own bombing campaigns earlier to interdict the trail, and operations into North Vietnam proper occurred as well, but the March 1969 strikes specifically targeted Cambodian sanctuaries.

The key idea here is the U.S. practice of widening the war by striking sanctuary sites outside North Vietnam to disrupt the enemy’s logistics. In March 1969, Washington launched Operation Menu, a bombing campaign aimed at North Vietnamese sanctuaries inside Cambodia. The goal was to interdict supplies and troops moving along routes that fed into South Vietnam, including the Ho Chi Minh Trail. This is why Cambodia is the correct choice: the targets were sanctuary sites within Cambodian territory, not in Laos, Vietnam, or Thailand.

Laos had its own bombing campaigns earlier to interdict the trail, and operations into North Vietnam proper occurred as well, but the March 1969 strikes specifically targeted Cambodian sanctuaries.

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