Aftermath: The Struggle Of Cambodia & Vietnam

by John Pilger, Anthony Barnett

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Journalism

151 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1982

About the author

John Richard Pilger was an Australian journalist and documentary maker. He had twice won Britain's Journalist of the Year Award, and his documentaries have received academy awards in Britain and the US. Based in London, he is known for his polemical campaigning style: "Secretive power loathes journalists who do their job, who push back screens, peer behind façades, lift rocks. Opprobrium from on high is their badge of honour."

Pilger had received human rights and journalism awards, as well as honorary doctorates. He was also a visiting professor at Cornell University in New York.

Reviews

[Paul Hargreaves · Rating 5 out of 5]

I needed to read this in small chunks, as it's so hard to take it all in. I'd forgotten just how terribly Vietnam was treated (and as a casual by product, Cambodia) for daring to repel the mighty USA.
Sickening stories of Pol Pot followed by intentional holding back of aid (Thatcher, Carter to blame here) and the unbelievable fact Pol Pot remained as the UN representative for Cambodia make this a hard read. But given today's "Fake News" an important read. Back then, "Fake News" (eg Vietnam is stealing the food aid) meant huge numbers of people died in Cambodia unnecessarily.

Noam Chomsky also seemed to admire Pot.

Pilger is a bit polarising (eg Clinton would be no worse than Trump) but this is a very important book.