Hot Wars: Asia, Latin Hot Wars: Asia, Latin America, and the Middle America, and the Middle

EastEast

Q: Was the US effective in Q: Was the US effective in containing communism in the containing communism in the

33rdrd World? World?

Case StudiesCase Studies Despite rhetoric, US foreign policy Despite rhetoric, US foreign policy

opposed to 2 central concepts:opposed to 2 central concepts: NationalismNationalism DemocracyDemocracy

Nationalism: transfer econ power US Nationalism: transfer econ power US multinationals to ownmultinationals to own

Democracy: power to the people= transfer Democracy: power to the people= transfer econ power to people (esp. land reform)econ power to people (esp. land reform) labeled communismlabeled communism

Nationalist, democratic revolutions against Nationalist, democratic revolutions against pro-US elites defined as communistpro-US elites defined as communist

George Kennan, 1948 US State Department Policy Planning Staff, Memo George Kennan, 1948 US State Department Policy Planning Staff, Memo

"Furthermore, we have about 50% of the world's wealth but only "Furthermore, we have about 50% of the world's wealth but only 6.3% of its population. This disparity is particularly great as 6.3% of its population. This disparity is particularly great as between ourselves and the peoples of Asia. In this situation, we between ourselves and the peoples of Asia. In this situation, we cannot fail to be the object of envy and resentment. Our real task cannot fail to be the object of envy and resentment. Our real task in the coming period is to devise a pattern of relationships which in the coming period is to devise a pattern of relationships which will permit us to maintain this position of disparity without positive will permit us to maintain this position of disparity without positive detriment to our national security. To do so, we will have to detriment to our national security. To do so, we will have to dispense with all sentimentality and day-dreaming; and our dispense with all sentimentality and day-dreaming; and our attention will have to be concentrated everywhere on our attention will have to be concentrated everywhere on our immediate national objectives. We need not deceive ourselves that immediate national objectives. We need not deceive ourselves that we can afford today the luxury of altruism and world-benefaction."we can afford today the luxury of altruism and world-benefaction."

““In the face of this situation we would be better off to dispense In the face of this situation we would be better off to dispense now with a number of the concepts which have underlined our now with a number of the concepts which have underlined our thinking with regard to the Far East. We should dispense with the thinking with regard to the Far East. We should dispense with the aspiration to “be liked” or to be regarded as the repository of a aspiration to “be liked” or to be regarded as the repository of a high-minded international altruism. We should stop putting high-minded international altruism. We should stop putting ourselves in the position of being our brothers' keeper and refrain ourselves in the position of being our brothers' keeper and refrain from offering moral and ideological advice. We should cease to talk from offering moral and ideological advice. We should cease to talk about vague and—for the Far East—unreal objectives such as about vague and—for the Far East—unreal objectives such as human rights, the raising of the living standards, and human rights, the raising of the living standards, and democratization. The day is not far off when we are going to have democratization. The day is not far off when we are going to have to deal in straight power concepts. The less we are then hampered to deal in straight power concepts. The less we are then hampered by idealistic slogans, the better.”by idealistic slogans, the better.”

I. Losing China and KoreaI. Losing China and KoreaA. “We picked a bad horse”A. “We picked a bad horse”

1949: corrupt, anti-land reform Chiang Kai-1949: corrupt, anti-land reform Chiang Kai-Shek (Nationalist) defeated by pro-peasant Shek (Nationalist) defeated by pro-peasant Mao ZedongMao Zedong Taiwan Taiwan

Mao: Asian Tito or puppet?Mao: Asian Tito or puppet? US refuse US refuse negotiations 1945 + 1949negotiations 1945 + 1949 “lean” USSR “lean” USSR (1950 alliance)(1950 alliance) no official recognition till no official recognition till 19791979

Republicans blame HT for “losing” China Republicans blame HT for “losing” China (despite billions in aid)(despite billions in aid) Raises fear Indochina + domino effectRaises fear Indochina + domino effect Precedent for CubaPrecedent for Cuba

B. Ignoring the B. Ignoring the Prime DirectivePrime Directive

1945: Korea divided 381945: Korea divided 38thth Parallel (a la G)Parallel (a la G)

1950: Kim Il Sung invades 1950: Kim Il Sung invades to reunifyto reunify civil war civil war

HT: “Communism was HT: “Communism was acting in Korea just as acting in Korea just as Hitler, Mussolini, and the Hitler, Mussolini, and the Japanese acted [in the Japanese acted [in the 1930s].”1930s].”

MacArthur Controversy: MacArthur Controversy: crosses the Rubicon + crosses the Rubicon + nearly undoes Constitutionnearly undoes Constitution Called for impeachment, Called for impeachment,

claimed HT drunk when claimed HT drunk when ordered firingordered firing

II. Like A Good NeighborII. Like A Good Neighbor FDR: Good Neighbor PolicyFDR: Good Neighbor Policy 1936: Pan-American Conference 1936: Pan-American Conference

(nonintervention); 1939: Declaration of (nonintervention); 1939: Declaration of PanamaPanama Marines pulled out of 19-year occupation of Marines pulled out of 19-year occupation of

Haiti; Cuba’s Platt Amendment repealed; Haiti; Cuba’s Platt Amendment repealed; cultural exchange programs; US accepts cultural exchange programs; US accepts Mexican nationalization oil (1938)Mexican nationalization oil (1938)

BUT: Rafael Tujillo (Dominican Republic); BUT: Rafael Tujillo (Dominican Republic); Anastasio Somoza (Nicaragua); Fulgencio Anastasio Somoza (Nicaragua); Fulgencio Batista (Cuba); Puerto RicoBatista (Cuba); Puerto Rico

Regardless, relations deteriorated despite:Regardless, relations deteriorated despite: 1948: Organization of American States (OAS): 1948: Organization of American States (OAS):

NATO in Latin AmericaNATO in Latin America 1961: Alliance for Progress1961: Alliance for Progress

A. UFCO’s Banana RepublicA. UFCO’s Banana RepublicUnited Fruit Company of United Fruit Company of

BostonBoston ½ million acres of land, ½ million acres of land,

railroad, the port and railroad, the port and telecommunications; 25% telecommunications; 25% of production came from of production came from Guatemala Guatemala

70% of land controlled by 70% of land controlled by 2.2% of pop.2.2% of pop.

Only 10% available to 90% Only 10% available to 90% of pop., esp. poor Indiansof pop., esp. poor Indians

Built schools, hospitals, Built schools, hospitals, treated malaria, but treated malaria, but institutionalized Jim Crow institutionalized Jim Crow + opposed unions+ opposed unions Tore down schools, Tore down schools,

housing, + hospitals when housing, + hospitals when abandoned towns that abandoned towns that unionizedunionized

Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, One Hundred Years of One Hundred Years of SolitudeSolitude

B. Jacobo Arbenz and B. Jacobo Arbenz and Nationalization Nationalization

CoupCoup election election March 17, 1951, Arbenz March 17, 1951, Arbenz

elected president w/ 65%elected president w/ 65% Modernization: land reformModernization: land reform

fallow land bought up and fallow land bought up and given to poorgiven to poor

Arbenz repaid the land Arbenz repaid the land owners what they declared owners what they declared the value in taxesthe value in taxes

UFCO had claimed $1 millionUFCO had claimed $1 million Later claimed $16 millionLater claimed $16 million Nationalization vs. Nationalization vs.

expropriationexpropriation

UFCO paints Arbenz as a UFCO paints Arbenz as a Communist rather than a Communist rather than a nationalistnationalist Sec’y State John Foster Dulles’ Sec’y State John Foster Dulles’

former law firm had represented former law firm had represented UFCOUFCO

CIA head Allen Dulles had been CIA head Allen Dulles had been on the board of trusteeson the board of trustees

Ed Whitman, husband Ike’s Ed Whitman, husband Ike’s private secretary: "Why the private secretary: "Why the Kremlin Hates Bananas“Kremlin Hates Bananas“

UFCO paid expenses of UFCO paid expenses of journalists who went to journalists who went to GuatemalaGuatemala pro-UFCO pieces pro-UFCO pieces

1954 Operation PBSUCCESS: only 150 1954 Operation PBSUCCESS: only 150 invaders, but CIA convinced invaders, but CIA convinced Guatemalans and Arbenz that it was Guatemalans and Arbenz that it was much largermuch larger Radio station and expert bombersRadio station and expert bombers

Howard Hunt, CIA chief, Mexico: Howard Hunt, CIA chief, Mexico:

"What we wanted to do was have a terror "What we wanted to do was have a terror campaign to terrify Arbenz particularly, campaign to terrify Arbenz particularly, terrify his ... his troops, much as the terrify his ... his troops, much as the German Stuka bombers terrified the German Stuka bombers terrified the population of Holland, Belgium and population of Holland, Belgium and Poland at the onset of World War II and Poland at the onset of World War II and just rendered everybody paralyzed."just rendered everybody paralyzed."

Guatemala City strafed from air, Guatemala City strafed from air, “rebels” invaded from Honduras, CIA “rebels” invaded from Honduras, CIA spreads panicspreads panic

U.N. emergency session; Washington U.N. emergency session; Washington denied responsibilitydenied responsibility

Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr., U.S. Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr., U.S. ambassador to the U.N.:ambassador to the U.N.:

"The information available to the United "The information available to the United States thus far strongly suggests that States thus far strongly suggests that the situation does not involve the situation does not involve aggression, but is a revolt of aggression, but is a revolt of Guatemalans against Guatemalans."Guatemalans against Guatemalans."

Soviets warned not to Soviets warned not to interfere either in the UN or interfere either in the UN or in Guatemala. in Guatemala.

Henry Cabot Lodge: "Stay out Henry Cabot Lodge: "Stay out of this hemisphere. And don't of this hemisphere. And don't try to start your plans and try to start your plans and your conspiracies over here." your conspiracies over here."

Castillo Armas, right-wing Castillo Armas, right-wing dictator, bend to UFCO's will: dictator, bend to UFCO's will: Armas purged the country of Armas purged the country of all suspected communists, all suspected communists, disenfranchised illiterate disenfranchised illiterate Guatemalans (poor + Guatemalans (poor + Indians= vast majority of the Indians= vast majority of the population), and banned population), and banned labor unionslabor unions School of the AmericasSchool of the Americas

Among those who fled Among those who fled was a young Argentine was a young Argentine doctor, Ernesto "Che" doctor, Ernesto "Che" Guevara, who went to Guevara, who went to Mexico and there met Mexico and there met Fidel CastroFidel Castro US backed corrupt US backed corrupt

Batista regimeBatista regime 1959 1959 revolutionrevolution assassination attempts, assassination attempts, invasioninvasion closer to USSR closer to USSR

Irony: Bay of PigsIrony: Bay of Pigs Cuban Missile CrisisCuban Missile Crisis

Deepened Latin Deepened Latin American anti-American anti-AmericanismAmericanism

III. Pan-ArabismIII. Pan-ArabismA. The State of IsraelA. The State of Israel

May 14, 1948: David Ben Gurion May 14, 1948: David Ben Gurion declares Israel based on UN plan declares Israel based on UN plan for partitionfor partition

Egypt, Syria, Jordan, + Iraq Egypt, Syria, Jordan, + Iraq invadeinvade Israel gained land Israel gained land Palestine ceased to exist as Palestine ceased to exist as independent nationindependent nation massive # massive # refugees (750,000; ethnic refugees (750,000; ethnic cleansing)cleansing)

6,000 Jews killed, 10% Israeli 6,000 Jews killed, 10% Israeli pop.pop. need support need support

US State Dept. anti-Semitic US State Dept. anti-Semitic (recog., but little aid till ’69)(recog., but little aid till ’69) France (trad. imp. power Mid East)France (trad. imp. power Mid East) France war Arabs in colony of AlgeriaFrance war Arabs in colony of Algeria France supports Israel’s socialist idealsFrance supports Israel’s socialist ideals

B. US and IranB. US and Iran Support Israel also limited (despite Support Israel also limited (despite

Holocaust, Jewish-Am lobbyists) by Holocaust, Jewish-Am lobbyists) by need Arabs’ oilneed Arabs’ oil

Fear Soviet power in region: 1953 CIA Fear Soviet power in region: 1953 CIA topples Iran’s prime minister topples Iran’s prime minister Mohammed Mossadegh Mohammed Mossadegh (Operation (Operation Ajax)Ajax) Wanted nationalize Iran’s oil industryWanted nationalize Iran’s oil industry

power and wealth for nationpower and wealth for nation Reinforce power of pro-US Reinforce power of pro-US Shah Shah

Mohammed RezaMohammed Reza repressive and repressive and autocratic: secret police (SAVAK)autocratic: secret police (SAVAK) Anti-shah uprising in 1979Anti-shah uprising in 1979 Ayattolah Ayattolah

KhomeniKhomeni

C. Nasser and Pan-ArabismC. Nasser and Pan-Arabism

1952, 1952, Gamal Abdel NaserGamal Abdel Naser led led Free OfficersFree Officers rev’y coup in Egypt rev’y coup in Egypt

Nasser hoped to carry revolution Nasser hoped to carry revolution throughout Arab worldthroughout Arab world

Pan-Arabism: unite all Arab people Pan-Arabism: unite all Arab people together to return them to former together to return them to former dignity + powerdignity + power

Independence from foreign controlIndependence from foreign control Key: “positive neutralism” or Key: “positive neutralism” or non-non-

alignmentalignment

Nasser’s relations strained Nasser’s relations strained with West over British with West over British influence in the region and influence in the region and control of the control of the Suez CanalSuez Canal A fortune off the shipping feesA fortune off the shipping fees Nasser saw the control of the Nasser saw the control of the

canal in similar terms to canal in similar terms to Mossadegh and Iranian oilMossadegh and Iranian oil

Britain wanted a collective Britain wanted a collective security pact in the Middle security pact in the Middle East to mirror NATO and East to mirror NATO and SEATO: SEATO: Baghdad PactBaghdad Pact Join Britain together with Iraq, Join Britain together with Iraq,

Pakistan, and Turkey; January 12, Pakistan, and Turkey; January 12, 19551955

Nasser refused: an “imperial Nasser refused: an “imperial device” for Britain controldevice” for Britain control removal 80,000 troopsremoval 80,000 troops Egypt left to defend against Egypt left to defend against IsraelIsrael needs guns needs guns US turns US turns down (pro-Israel lobby)down (pro-Israel lobby)

Moscow wants “in” but avoid MADMoscow wants “in” but avoid MAD Czechs Czechs as a middlemanas a middleman Czech Arms DealCzech Arms Deal

Dulles “simmering with anger”: sends Kim Dulles “simmering with anger”: sends Kim Roosevelt, CIA agent who toppled Roosevelt, CIA agent who toppled Mossadegh, to see NasserMossadegh, to see Nasser

Nasser warned to “Remember Nasser warned to “Remember Guatemala”Guatemala” “To hell with Guatemala;” “To hell with Guatemala;” “We are independent of the West”“We are independent of the West”

Dulles initially accepted Nasser’s right to Dulles initially accepted Nasser’s right to get arms: “Arab countries were get arms: “Arab countries were independent governments and free to do independent governments and free to do whatever they wished in the matter...it is whatever they wished in the matter...it is difficult to be critical of countries which difficult to be critical of countries which feeling themselves endangered seek the feeling themselves endangered seek the arms which they sincerely need.”arms which they sincerely need.”

D. Suez Crisis and Eisenhower D. Suez Crisis and Eisenhower DoctrineDoctrine

Dulles sensed non-alignment for realDulles sensed non-alignment for real Aswan High Aswan High DamDam

Dulles offers financing, but stringsDulles offers financing, but strings Nasser Nasser delaysdelays Dulles pulls the deal off the table to force Dulles pulls the deal off the table to force cooperationcooperation

Aswan example West’s lack of respectAswan example West’s lack of respect nationalizes Suez Canalnationalizes Suez Canal Nasser promises to pay Suez Canal Company, but Britain, Nasser promises to pay Suez Canal Company, but Britain,

France, Israel colludeFrance, Israel collude Israel claims that the Egyptians are about to Israel claims that the Egyptians are about to

invadeinvade send troops into Egypt send troops into Egypt British and French “try” to negotiate a peace, when British and French “try” to negotiate a peace, when

this inevitably fails they too send troopsthis inevitably fails they too send troops

Nasser closes the Suez Canal, cutting Nasser closes the Suez Canal, cutting off European trade and oil supplies to off European trade and oil supplies to the attackersthe attackers

Millions of Egyptians and other Arabs Millions of Egyptians and other Arabs rose up to resist the invadersrose up to resist the invaders

Dulles wanted to win over the popular Dulles wanted to win over the popular leaderleader calls for British withdrawal calls for British withdrawal Basically ends Brit empire in Mid EastBasically ends Brit empire in Mid East

Soviets threaten “rocket attacks” Soviets threaten “rocket attacks” (possible nukes)(possible nukes)

Both sides step in to void left by Europeans Both sides step in to void left by Europeans (Soviets build Aswan), Nasser hero(Soviets build Aswan), Nasser hero

Eisenhower DoctrineEisenhower Doctrine US military aid to Mid Eastern countries that US military aid to Mid Eastern countries that

request supportrequest support $200 million to support development in countries $200 million to support development in countries

that request aidthat request aid 1957: 14,000 Americans in Lebanon1957: 14,000 Americans in Lebanon

US promote corrupt King Ibn Saud (Saudi US promote corrupt King Ibn Saud (Saudi Arabia) as “Arab rival”Arabia) as “Arab rival” Model for Reagan Iran-IraqModel for Reagan Iran-Iraq

Deepened Arab + 3Deepened Arab + 3rdrd World anti-US World anti-US sentimentsentiment