Marshal Lon Nol, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, with assistance from the United states Army Special Forces (private mercenaries) displaces Prince Norodom Sihanouk, head of state.  Nol establishes a military dictatorship closely aligned with the U.s. and against the communist Democratic Republic of (North) Vietnam.  This begins the U.s.’ 15th attempt at nation building.

       NOTE: While “nation-building is a laudable goal, Article IV, Section 4 of the Constitution for the united States says that “The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government”; it does NOT state that “The United States shall guarantee to every nation on this planet a Republican Form of Government” [emphasis added].

       [added 6/26/2025]