1972 in the Vietnam War the number of air raids against North Vietnam during all of 1971. Prime Minister Lon Nol declared President of Cambodia. Unlike the former Cambodian leader, Norodom Sihanouk, Lon Nol was a U.S. ally. The U.S. 101st Airborne Division left South Vietnam, the last U.S. ground combat division to be withdrawn from South Vietnam. The Khmer Rouge bombarded with artillery Phnom Penh, the capital city of Cambodia, killing more than 100 civilians. This was the heaviest attack on Phnom Penh since the Cambodian Civil War began in 1970. The United States boycotted peace negotiations in Paris with the North Vietnamese, citing
1972 in the Vietnam War exchanged, an internationally supervised cease fire implemented, and a presidential election held in South Vietnam. Nixon did not demand the withdrawal of North Vietnamese military forces from South Vietnam. North Vietnam criticized the U.S. for making public the details of secret peace talks. North Vietnam introduced its peace plan which demanded the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of U.S. military personnel from South Vietnam and the resignation of the Thieu government. President Nixon approved additional authority to General Abrams in South Vietnam to use American power to counter the anticipated North Vietnamese offensive. Specifically, the President acknowledged the growing threat from