4. truman and the cold war
DESCRIPTION
4. Truman and the Cold War. Origins? Post-1945: Relations between U.S. and U.S.S.R. break down over Eastern Europe American politics takes rightward turn, leading many to criticize Democrats for “going soft” on Communism Soviet, Chinese Communist Victories - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
4. Truman and the Cold War Origins?
Post-1945: Relations between U.S. and U.S.S.R. break down over Eastern Europe
American politics takes rightward turn, leading many to criticize Democrats for “going soft” on Communism
Soviet, Chinese Communist Victories Soviets develop own atom bomb in late 1940s Occupy Eastern Europe and establish “satellite
states” nominally independent, but controlled by Moscow
Mao Tse-Tung and Chinese Communists win big victory in 1949, force Nationalists under Chiang Kai-Shek to flee to Taiwan
Development of “Containment” Doctrine State department official George Kennan
suggests “containment” idea as way of stopping Soviet (and later Chinese) expansion
Military, social aid to countries under Communist threat
Truman gives aid to Greece and Turkey to do this, develops Truman Doctrine that US must intervene to save allies from encroaching Soviet influence
The Marshall Plan and other economic assistance U.S. pours $17.6 billion into Europe to help them
rebuild, buy American products, and use American technical assistance
Program helps defuse Communist movements in free countries
Rhetorical battle to defend nations from Communist influence
1948—Stalin closes roads to West Berlin, Truman has major success with flying supplies to keep it alive and free
4. Truman and the Cold War
Willingness to commit U.S. troops “if necessary”
In aftermath of WWII, many Asian countries freed from Japanese control
Korea is divided between Soviet & Chinese-supported North and American-supported dictator in South
25 June 1950—North invades South Documents show that Stalin supported North’s bid
to invade and conquer SouthTruman intervenes, takes advantage of Soviet
abstention at UN to secure authority to stop the invasion
Calls operation “police action,” not a war Gen. Douglas MacArthur launches Inchon invasion,
defeats NK army and moves north to Chinese border
Chinese counterattack, MacArthur calls for widening the war, having Chiang Kai-shek invade China from Taiwan, and possibly using atomic bombs on Chinese cities
Vietnam (1950s-1973)
4. Truman and the Cold War
Truman is furious for disobeying orders to “contain the war” and prevent WWIII
Truman fires MacArthur officially for writing letter to GOP politicians
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3aCIfVhW7w&NR=1&feature=endscreen
After three long years, Korean War ends with 36,516 US deaths and only after Pres. Eisenhower threatens the use of nukes to force NK to agree to a ceasefire—the war NEVER officially ended
4. Truman and the Cold War
George F. Kennan http://www.historyguide.org/europe/kennan.html
1. What is the ideology of the Soviet Union?
2. What is Soviet internal and external (foreign) policy?
3. What does Kennan think the United States must do to resist Soviet expansion?
4. How does Kennan portray the role of the United States in a postwar world?
5. Eisenhower and the Cold War The Nuclear Response
By early 1950s, Soviets have atomic and nuclear bombs and can retaliate, but not nearly as strongly
Pres. Eisenhower embraces nukesMassive Retaliation—if the Soviets do anything big, US
will wipe them out (rather implausible, really)“New Look” envisions “nuclear Armed Forces”
missiles, bombers Army with nuke artillery Military will get “more bang for the buck” as nukes
are cheaper than huge conventional military As Soviets gain parity with US on nukes in JFK
admin, concepts of Flexible Response and Mutually Assured Destruction emerge
5. Eisenhower and the Cold War Interventions to protect (and create)
friends CIA sponsors operations into Iran, Guatemala,
elsewhere to back anti-Communist, but repressive regimes
Iran 1953: Long-serving dictator of Iran, Shah Pahlavi is forced from power by left-leaning Mohammad Mossadegh, who promptly nationalizes oil fields
Operation Ajax—CIA & MI6 cooperate to reinstate Shah with expectation that oil will continue to flow for benefit of British and American companies
Excuse is that Mossadegh might hand Iran over to Soviets
CIA hires army of thugs to disrupt the government and lead to Mossadegh’s ouster
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRkd878lq90
5. Eisenhower and the Cold WarGuatemala1954
Country had elected left-wing reformer Jacobo Arbenz Guzman as President
Promises land reform (2 percent of people owned 70 percent of land)
Expropriates 400k acres of unused land from U.S.-based United Fruit Company
Only slight ties to Communists, but State Dept. insists that if Arbenz “thought like a Communist and talked like a Communist . . . [he] would do until one came along.”
1953—Ike approves CIA plan to remove Arbenz from power
HQ in Florida, training camps in Nicaragua and Honduras
$5-7 million gathered to create mercenary army from Guatemalan exiles
Will appoint U.S.-trained Col. Castillo Armas as president after coup
Washington cuts off funds to Guatemala, convinces OAS to issue statement condemning Communism
5. Eisenhower and the Cold War The Final Act
May 1954—Unable to buy weapons from U.S. or its allies to defend himself from the upcoming coup, Arbenz tries to buy Czech arms
CIA responds by buying newspapers, spreading false stories about Arbenz going Communist, and dropping supplies at United Fruit locations
Armas’s small army invades from Honduras U.S. planes bomb Guatemala City Arbenz flees in fear after losing control of his army
Aftermath Armas only survives to 1957, but is replaced by loyal
pro-U.S. dictatorship Guatemala serves as base for further operations
against left-wing leaders—like Castro http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4trLK4NDWM
5. Eisenhower and the Cold War Eisenhower and Vietnam
Indochina denied independence after WWII U.S. fails to push French to give up the country and it is restored
to them after Japanese leave Ho Chi Minh feels betrayed, begins nationalist war against
French in name of American ideals of 1776 State Dept. increasingly sees Ho as a Communist U.S. starts paying burden of French fight against Ho, 78 percent
by 1954 French lose embarrassingly after battle of Dienbenphu, but Ike
resists calls for US invasion Temporary solution?
Plan is—divide VN between North and South (which worked so well in Korea), allow Ho to rule North, US-backed Ngo Dinh Diem to rule in South
Reunification election to be held in 1956 according to Geneva meeting, but US refuses to sign off
US, Ike back Diem’s refusal to hold elections and embrace Domino Theory, committing military advisors, but not ground troops, to Vietnam
National Security Council, NSC 136/1, "United States Policy regarding the Present Situation in Iran," Top Secret Report, November 20, 1952
http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB126/iran521120.pdf
1. What does the document say about a possible USSR takeover of Iran? Why must it be opposed?
2. How does the document view Britain?
3. How does it view the current (Mossadegh) government?
4. What should the U.S. do to strengthen Iran against a Communist takeover?
The Cold War at home… The Second Red Scare
Like the “First Red Scare” post-WWI, Americans fear domestic subversion
Problem is, many Americans dabbled with Communism during 1930s due to Depression
Calls for loyalty tests, investigation not just of government officials, but Americans from several walks of life: teachers, lawyers, union organizers, entertainers, journalists
House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC)
Ironically, set up in 1930s to investigate American Nazis Biggest success is with Alger Hiss, State Department
official Working (illegally) with info from FBI, investigates and
subpoenas thousands of people Hearings frequently turn into circuses “Are you now, or have you ever been a member of the
Communist Party...?”
The Cold War at home II Joseph McCarthy (McCarthyism)
Works from the Senate to do almost same thing as HUAC
Charges less-grounded than HUAC Makes personal attacks on powerful officials Constantly changes numbers of how many Commies
are in gov’t, sometimes hundreds, sometimes dozens Has fanatical following, helps Republicans win
elections Falls after televised hearing shows him in action
Effects of all this? Blacklist (thousands become unemployable due to
mere accusations, refusal to testify, or “pleading the Fifth”
Chilling effect on domestic debate on important issues
Enforces conformity
The Cold War at home III The McCarran-Walter Act (1952)
Sponsored by Sen. Pat McCarran (D-NV) and Rep. Francis Walter (D-PA), both anti-Communist icons by mid-1950s
Allows for easy deportation of “subversive” aliens, denial of entry to political undesirables, and denaturalization and deportation proceedings against naturalized citizens
Eliminates remaining bans on Asian immigrants, allows for naturalization of Asian immigrants in U.S.
But: Asia-Pacific Triangle Mostly maintains 1924 quota restrictions designed to
favor northwestern European immigrants and limit everyone else:
• Overall Ceiling: 154,657• Allocation: Each country given cap equal to 1/6 of 1 percent
of persons in U.S. in 1920 whose ancestry derived from that area. Established minimum of 100 per country. General ceiling of 2000 for Asian countries.
• No limitations on Western Hemisphere, but dependencies (Jamaica, for example) receive quotas of 100, not the quota of mother country.
6. JFK & the Cold War JFK enters office with young, can-do team
• Staunch anti-Communist, campaigns on non-existent “missile gap” in 1960
• “action intellectuals” like ex-Ford Motor prez Robert McNamara
Emphasize slogans: “The Grand Design” for Europe, the “New Africa,” for Latin America the “Alliance for Progress” and the “New Frontier” for home
Data praised over people, computers over eyes on the ground
• Commits administration to huge Cold War undertaking in his inaugural address
“Let every nation know that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty.”
• The Berlin Speech 1961-East Germany builds wall to separate East and West
Berlin 1963-JFK delivers strong speech supporting end of
Communism and reunification http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56V6r2dpYH8
6. JFK & the Cold War Kennedy’s greatest challenge—Cuba
• 1959—Fidel Castro comes to power to depose U.S.-supported Batista dictatorship
Seizes much U.S.-owned property, including sugar, mining, and utilities developed since 1898 invasion
A nationalist and socialist at first, but not yet a Communist Ike responds by ignoring and subbing Castro, while many
in Washington suspect he will give in to USSR• JFK is very bellicose (warlike) on Castro in 1960
Campaign and in 1961 Claims Castro is a serious danger Approves various CIA operations to take him out
• Bay of Pigs fiasco Ike-era plan trains Cuban exiles to invade Cuba and
quickly overthrow Fidel with popular support CIA completely underestimates popularity of Castro April 1961-tiny 1400-man force hits Cuba Surprise! No popular rebellion and JFK refuses to broaden
the war with air support, dooming them Does succeed at pushing Castro into Khrushchev's camp
A memorandum from Kennedy aide Richard Goodwin http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/bayofpigs/19610822.pdf
1. How does Goodwin describe Guevara's appearance and personality?
2. What does Guevara say about the state of the Cuban revolution and the problems he and Castro currently face?
3. What does he say about the Bay of Pigs invasion? Why?
4. What does he want from the United States? Were his desires realistic?
6. JFK & the Cold War• The Missile Crisis
Castro asks for and receives lots of military aid from Soviets to deter another US invasion
• Soviets recklessly put medium-range (1100 mile) missile sites on Cuba, which delights Fidel
Oct. 1962-the Crisis begins• U-2 spy plane sees missile sights and confirms them to JFK• “Executive Committee, Ex Comm” created to discuss
possible options• JFK avoids directly working with Soviets, instead opts for
public confrontation with TV address• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOnY6b-qy_8 • Decides to “quarantine” Cuba from further Soviet military
supplies• Soviets send a fleet to break the blockade, but at last
minute, turn back• Khrushchev works with JFK to remove missiles from Cuba for
promise not to invade Cuba (and secret promise to remove obsolete missiles from northern Turkey
7. Vietnam The fear of losing Vietnam…
Domino theory means every country in Asia will fall if we allow Vietnam to fall
Truman suffered greatly for “losing China,” JFK, LBJ will not do the same
Early interventions… Ike provides military aid and a few advisors to prop up
corrupt South Vietnam government JFK increases number of advisors (including Special Forces),
provide military training, aid… but what would he have done?
7. Vietnam LBJ trapped by situation…
if he pulls advisors out, Vietnam will fall and he will get the blame for “losing Vietnam” just as Truman “lost China”
Decides gradual increase of troops is appropriate to control situation
Allows Americans to engage in combat with North Vietnamese Army (NVA) and Viet Cong (VC)
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution— US ships were running intelligence gathering missions Also escorting SV landing parties of special ops troops NV ships briefly engage US ships, but unclear what exactly
happened LBJ portrays incident as “unprovoked attack” and convinces
Congress to authorize him to do whatever was necessary to “protect US forces” and provide assistance to any ally requesting help in defending its freedom
7. Vietnam—Attempts to win in Vietnam Operation Rolling Thunder
Colossal bombing campaign designed to flatten North Vietnam, force them to the table
Ultimately fails, North Vietnam develops most sophisticated air defense system in the world
New Life Hamlet Program To win the “hearts and minds” of the people Relocate villagers to protected hamlets, provide them with
food, education Feeble attempt to undo the damage being done by
Communists and Americans to villages Search and destroy
Strategy of MACV (Mil. Asst. Command Vietnam) Gen. William Westmoreland emphasizes finding and destroying enemy troops and strongholds, does not recognize need to hold territory
Kill ratios become substitute for actual strategic gains, theory is that Vietnam will lose more troops than they can spare and lose the war (attrition)
7. Vietnam—Losing Vietnam… Dramatic troop presence, but no effective strategy
550,000 American personnel at high point Overemphasis on technology, kill-power
Debatable cause South Vietnamese government never improves, remains
corrupt, incompetent, brutal toward own people Viet Cong maintain strong popular support despite
American attempts The Media
Television brings bloody reality of war into Americans’ homes, Walter Cronkite and others question whether war is winnable
Tet Offensive (Jan. – Feb. 1968) Military disaster for Viet Cong, but convinces Americans
that war in Vietnam is far from over Reveals “credibility gap” since LBJ had claimed war was
going well 1971—three years later, Daniel Ellsberg leaks stolen Pentagon
Papers to New York Times which only fuels opposition
7. Vietnam—Ending Vietnam… Ending Vietnam…
Nixon committed to forcing North Vietnamese to the table, but also to keeping South Vietnam from losing
1969- Vietnamization (train ARVN troops to defend own country, get all U.S. forces out by late 1972), as troops leave by tens of thousands, war protests die down
1970- Invasion of Cambodia (target Ho Chi Minh trail to weaken NVA ability to fight), leads to massive resumption of war protests, Kent State Massacre, shutdown of colleges
7. Vietnam—Ending Vietnam… 1972- North Vietnam launches new assault on South,
Nixon uses heavy bombing of North to stop it “Madman Theory”-Nixon wants North Vietnam to think
“he’ll do anything to end the war” Kissinger works with Le Duc To of North Vietnam for an
end to the conflict, Pres. Thieu of South Vietnam refuses to accept it short of withdrawal of NVA troops
Ceasefire would allow:Americans to leaveNorth Vietnam would release American POWsSouth Vietnamese President Thieu would remain in powerNVA troops in South Vietnam would stay until final
agreement To ensure North will go along with treaty, Nixon orders
“Christmas Bombings” which unleash staggering assault on the country
7. Vietnam—Ending Vietnam… Jan. 27, 1973- U.S. and North Vietnam finally
sign cease-fire, remaining U.S. troops are pulled out
October 1974- North Vietnamese decide U.S. will not intervene if they begin new campaign
March 1975- North Vietnam begins new invasion of South, South quickly collapses
April 29- North Vietnam takes Saigon, renames it Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam War ends as a total disaster
Pentagon Papers clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4kQG1bPf2k
Philip Caputo’s “A Splendid Little War” in Vietnam War attachment
1. How does Caputo portray patrol and combat operations in Vietnam?
2. What goes through Caputo’s mind as he makes observations in the foxhole?
3. What is the significance of the Kipling poem?
4. Explain the actions of PFC Buchanan.5. What does Caputo’s night experience
show about the war?
Nixon’s Silent Majority Speech http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=2303
1. How does Nixon describe and justify the need to Vietnamize the war?
2. What two alternatives does he propose for handling the war? Are these real alternatives?
3. What does he say about the state of American society? Why does he apologize for speaking of “patriotism?”
4. What arguments does he make for people to support his efforts?
5. Why does he use the phrase “silent majority?”
8. Ending the Cold War—Nixon
Foreign policy was always No. 1 Priority, Nixon approached it confidently
Bypasses State Department, relies heavily on White House’s National Security Council, appoints Henry Kissinger (German Jewish refugee, Harvard intellectual) to lead it
Emphasize realpolitik, a realistic approach to foreign policy based on securing national objectives by any means necessary, including working with unsavory characters, even with the enemy
H.K. and Nixon agree that containment, bipolar view of world is outdated, push for working with other rising nations in Europe, as well as Japan
Focus less on fighting the world’s battles, more on negotiation with Soviets, achieving “balance of power”
Simultaneously, continues to finance right-wing regimes in Latin America, sponsors coup in Chile
Opening China Nixon recognizes America needed to approach
China for economic and political reasons China a huge potential trading partner… Can use friendliness with China to help end
Vietnam War, work with Soviets Conducts secret negotiations in 1971… “Ping-
Pong Diplomacy” Nixon meets with Chairman Mao in February
1972, visit dramatically improves U.S.-China relations, ignores human rights, Taiwan, and nuclear weapons
8. Ending the Cold War—Nixon
Détente with the U.S.S.R. May 1972- meets with Leonid Brezhnev to discuss arms
and trade SALT I treaty accepted, limits ICBMs and ABMs, only
slightly limits arms production, but is huge step toward limiting arms in the future
Nixon notes Russian leaders now willing to talk, not as belligerent as they were in 1950s
8. Ending the Cold War—Nixon
Reagan’s philosophy quite different than Nixon, more challenging than Carter 1983 Evil Empire speech: “I urge you to beware the temptation
of pride, the temptation of blithely declaring yourselves above it all and label both sides equally at fault, to ignore the facts of history and the aggressive impulses of an evil empire, to simply call the arms race a giant misunderstanding and thereby remove yourself from the struggle between right and wrong and good and evil.”
Reagan’s foreign policy Rapidly increases military spending to challenge Soviets
Boosts economy, tech sector by doing so—runs unprecedented deficits “Star Wars” envisioned as ICBM defense system Rejects idea of arms reduction, instead brings back arms race Derided as “Ronnie Ray-gun
Challenges Soviet Union in early 80s with Evil Empire talk Mid-late 1980s—meets with Mikhail Gorbachev and eases
relations, hastens end of Cold War Remains tough on “Gorby” with Berlin speech:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-W1QBin4hHM Initial tough talk and high spending, followed by some flexibility
might have been right formula Soviet Union collapsed a decade after he took office
8. Ending the Cold War—Reagan
Avoids costly troop commitments American marines were in Beirut to protect U.S. interests following 1982
Israeli invasion chased out PLO Marines were to keep peace between Christians and Muslims, but Reagan
pulled them out after bloody terrorist attack killed 241, group known as Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility
Reagan nonetheless enjoyed a good anticommunist show, “Reagan Doctrine” emphasized “rollback” by sponsoring anti-Communist rebels
Grenada invasion 1983—followed Beirut bombing by just days… Relatively harmless leftwing reform government toppled by internal
coup, popular leader executed by rebels and protestors massacred Reagan and military, who had been hoping for just such an opportunity
to overthrow socialist government, took it Reagan argues government is dominated by pro-Castro Communists Invasion is mostly-popular, US suffers only 19 deaths in three-day
operation, rescues US medical students never seriously threatened Iran-Contra scandal (1986-1988)
Shadow network of intelligence agents conducts illegal sale of arms to Iran for return of American hostages (this went directly against US policy)
Profits from arms sales to Iran (and perhaps drug sales from other operations with ties to US-backed dictator Manuel Noriega) are pooled to finance Contra army
Goal of coordinator NSC operative Lt. Col. Oliver North was to overthrow leftwing Sandinista government in Nicaragua
8. Ending the Cold War—Reagan
Sen. Barry Goldwater on Mining of Nicaraguan Harborshttp://www.brown.edu/Research/Understanding_the_Iran_Contra_Affair/documents/d-nic-9.pdf
1. Just why is Goldwater so upset? Why does he feel betrayed?
2. What does he say about the mining itself? Do you think he was right?
3. What does this reveal about the administration's actions?
Special Activities in Nicaragua – the Mining Operationhttp://www.brown.edu/Research/Understanding_the_Iran_Contra_Affair/documents/d-all-6.pdf
1. Note the date in this document. How long did it take for this to become public?
2. How much of this is redacted?3. What was the purpose of the mining?4. Were there important specifics about the
operation?
9. The New World Order of Bush I and Clinton Bush foreign policy (his greatest successes)
Settles the end of the Cold War (great diplomat) Envisions “new world order” to address power vacuum left
by collapse of Soviet Union Averted major conflicts with East in aftermath of breakup
and aided transition of Eastern Europe toward capitalism 1989 Panama Invasion – “Operation Just Cause”
Without Congressional approval, launches a major invasion of Panama costing a paltry 40 US lives and perhaps 500 Panamanian soldiers and civilians
Human rights groups argue death toll MUCH higher—3500 or more, from pulverized neighborhood
US-backed regime succeeding Noriega had strong desire to downplay such high estimates
removes CIA-installed Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega who, surprise, surprise, was selling drugs
Raw Footage: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2v6roCPKvZU
1990-1991: Pursues Saddam Hussein in the Gulf War US had backed Hussein for a decade US also backed his enemies, the Iranians, with weapons so each side
could kill each other off in the Iraq-Iran War US had also backed Hussein’s enemies, the Israelis, with lots of
military aid since the 1970s and had supported Israeli operations 2-4 Aug 1990—Hussein invades and quickly conquers Kuwait, arguing
it was “historically” part of Iraq 7 Aug 1990—Pres. Bush begins Operation Desert Shield to prevent
Hussein from taking over Saudi Arabia as well (primarily to protect U.S. oil supply)
24-28 Feb 1991—authorizes Operation Desert Storm to liberate Kuwait and push Hussein back into Iraq
BUT stops short of invading Iraq to protect American lives from needless occupation
Sec. of State Dick Cheney and Chair of Joint Chiefs Gen. Colin Powell both agree that invasion of Iraq and regime change is unnecessary and dangerous
For next twelve years, US deals with Iraq through UN weapons inspections and occasional bombings, as well as painful embargo that primarily hurt civilians the most
9. The New World Order of Bush I and Clinton
Bush I on the start of Operation Desert Storm http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=19222
1. How does Bush portray Hussein in this speech? Of what does he accuse him?
2. What is the justification for attacking now, rather than waiting for sanctions to take effect?
3. What is the “new world order” he mentions? What else could it actually be?
4. How does he envision the war unfolding? Why does he contrast the mission with the war in Vietnam?
5. How does he use the words of servicepeople to get Americans to support the war effort?
Powell Doctrine: the United States should commit its men and women in the military to combat only as a last resort and after all other non-violent policy alternatives had been exhausted — and then, only
(1) when the vital national security interest of the nation is threatened by the intended target,
(2) when the U.S. force used is overwhelming and disproportionate to the force available to the enemy,
(3) when the action and mission are fully understood and strongly supported by the American people and the mission has genuine international support, and
(4) there is a clear and plausible exit strategy for the U.S. troops involved.
9. The New World Order of Bush I and Clinton
Post-Cold War president Emphasizes need to shift to domestic concerns following
fall of Soviet Union By dramatically cutting military spending, Clinton able
to balance budget by mid-1990s Raises taxes slightly, but able to avoid criticism as
economy improves Mostly peace, but a sprinkling of war
Fairly-effective diplomat and well-liked worldwide Avoids painful commitments (like Somalia, Rwanda) Somalia 1993—US troops in Somalia to help deliver food
supplies to starving people, attempt to establish order and keep warlords under control
Encounter painful, coordinated attacks and 43 Americans are killed
Clinton recognizes unpopularity of losing lives and evacuates all forces by 1995
Mission does succeed at reducing famine, if not political chaos
9. The New World Order of Bush I and Clinton
Rwanda—the path not taken 1994: Hutus (majority) rise up against Tutsi minority (which
had held elite status historically) Around 800,000 Tutsis killed by machetes by Hutu mobs, many
by their neighbors French UN presence, but no authority to use violence and no
numbers to show enough force Clinton resists taking serious action and delays until it is much
too late, expresses regrets later Bosnia and Serbia—the path taken
In aftermath of fall of Yugoslavia, Serbs, Croats, and Muslims battle for ethnic enclaves in Bosnia
Serbs commit terrible atrocities, executions, mass rapes, and expulsions in the name of “ethnic cleansing”
Clinton supports NATO bombing campaign that breaks power of Serb army and dispatches 20k American peacekeepers despite public opposition
9. The New World Order of Bush I and Clinton
1999- (Yugoslavian) Serbian forces under Slobodan Milosevic attack ethnic Albanian Muslims in Kosovo
Clinton supports another massive bombing campaign War costs 2,000-5,000 lives, but a handful of NATO lives Again, peacekeeping force sent in Milosevic indicted for war crimes, but dies of heart attack in his cell
Real foreign policy issues go by unsolved… North Korea, Iran, and little-known Al-Qaeda
9. The New World Order of Bush I and Clinton
US Department of State, cable number 127262, 13 May 94 on Rwanda http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB53/rw051394.pdf
1. What is the attitude of the State Department toward sending troops into Rwanda? What concerns or difficulties are listed?
2. Instead of a response to actively stopping the violence, what does the document propose instead?
3. What were the advantages of establishing "safety zones" instead of trying to stop the violence?
4. How does this approach to problem-solving contrast with Bush's words on Saddam Hussein?
Richard A. Clarke to Condi Rice on Al-Qaeda threat, 25 Jan 01 http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB147/clarke%20memo.pdf
1. What is Clarke’s opinion of Al-Qaeda? Why is it not “just some terrorist group?
2. How does Clarke explain Al-Qaeda’s vision and goals?
3. What policy questions does he list? What do these suggest about the tactics that might have been used against bin Laden?
10. The Ongoing War on Terror The War on Terror
Bush’s political salvation- the 9/11 attacks Is strong, even inspiring leader in aftermath, pledges
quick response to terrorism No one reads their history…
Invades Afghanistan (the “graveyard of empires”) to depose Taliban, capture Osama bin Laden (who escapes into Pakistan)
Notice we’re still there even after Bin Laden killed—longest ongoing conflict since Vietnam
Liberty or security? You choose… With wide bi-partisan support, pushes the USA PATRIOT
act through Congress Greatly expands administration power to intercept
information, interrogate and arrest suspects, spy on Americans and foreigners
Harassment at the airports “Legal” torture (or enhanced interrogation techniques?) Detainee abuse at Abu Ghraib Long-term detention at Guantanamo
Justifications for Iraq invasion? Late 2002- administration officials begin pushing for
invasion of Iraq to “disarm” Saddam Hussein Accusations made that Hussein has WMDs and could
potentially give them to Al-Qaeda Bush rallies Congress behind war effort with resolution Fails to unite UN, France, or Germany behind the plan WMDs never turn up after the invasion, so justification
shifted mainly to “spread democracy (neocon theory)” Great war, horrible peace
March 2003- Hussein strangely refuses to give in, U.S. and British invade
Invasion itself is brilliant, but aftermath a disaster Sunni and Shiia militias ironically unite for a time to
attack US The “magnet theory…if we fight them there, they won’t
come over here” Costs?
Billions of dollars, 1,000s of US lives, 100,000s of Iraqi lives lost—great profits go to Halliburton, Blackwater
Iraq is free, but still surrounded by dictatorships
10. The Ongoing War on Terror
Osama bin Laden on the war http://www.aljazeera.com/archive/2004/11/200849163336457223.html
1. Why does bin Laden trace his support of terrorism to the 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon?
2. Where did his inspiration for the Twin Towers come from?
3. Summarize the criticisms he makes against Bush I and II.
4. According to his estimates, was 9/11 an effective military operation?
5. Does he propose solutions? What were people supposed to take away from this?
Obama foreign policyBeloved by world before taking office (quite a departure from
W, obviously) and gets Nobel Peace Prize in fall 2009Does finally get the troops out of Iraq (at least the vast
majority)Launches a surge, then a reduction in troops in Afghanistan Supports Arab Spring with some cautionAssists civil war in Libya with air support, very Bill ClintonStrains to pull loose from ties to IsraelBin Laden killing clearly his greatest success, but troops still
in Afghanistan and elsewhere in large numbersDrone strikes against foreign as well as citizen suspected
terrorists in other countriesNorth Korea? Iran?“Gitmo” still open, but admin is pushing for means of trying
suspects, jailing them on mainlandBenghazi disaster—US embassy attacked, ambassador killed
in 2012
10. The Ongoing War on Terror