Final answer:
The invasion of Cambodia during the Vietnam War was a military action taken by the United States to disrupt North Vietnamese operations and oppose the Khmer Rouge. The invasion involved bombing and brief occupation of Cambodia, leading to protests and significant consequences in the region.
Step-by-step explanation:
The invasion of Cambodia refers to the military actions taken by the United States during the Vietnam War in the late 1960s. The purpose of the invasion was to disrupt the North Vietnamese military operations and oppose the Khmer Rouge, a Cambodian communist group. The invasion involved bombing and briefly invading Cambodia, which led to protests and political backlash in the United States.
The US bombing of Cambodia violated legal and ethical standards, as it targeted a neutral nation. The bombings caused significant civilian casualties and led to the displacement of millions of Cambodians. Additionally, the invasion contributed to the destabilization of Cambodia, ultimately paving the way for the Khmer Rouge to seize power in 1975 and carry out a brutal regime marked by mass killings and forced labor.