Reagan & The Cold WarReagan & The Cold War

What polices does Ronald Reagan use in dealing with the Communist World?

Reagan Doctrine states US will now aid any nation trying to stop communism around the world

Reagan’s Foreign Policy: End of Détente

• 1983: Reagan invades Grenada when Communists try to take over, 24hour mission a success, so Reagan will begin sending aid to C.Am

1982: In a speech Reagan calls the Soviet Union an “Evil Empire”

El Salvador:-1980: US backs the El Salvadoran Armed Forces in a civil war against Communist FMLN-ESAF uses money to fund death squads terrorizing the country

Nicaragua:-1980: Daniel Ortega begins socialist reforms-US backs an anti-communist groupcalled the Contras-Contras incompetent – Congresscuts off funding in 1985

Reagan Doctrine in Central America

Iran-Contra Scandal1983: Reagan sends US Marines to Lebanon to help in civil war, suicide bombers hit Marine barracks, kill 241

1983: Terrorists begin kidnapping Americans in Middle East

1986: Reagan Admin was secretly selling arms to Iran (in their war with US-backed Iraq) to gets hostages back

Ntl Security Advisor John Poindexter & Col. Oliver North were taking profits from sales and sending them to Contras

Reagan claims he only knew of arms for hostages, not of illegal money to contras

1. Who knew about the money and what did Reagan say about it?2. How did money get to the Contras?3. What did Meese say about the scandal?

Iran-Contra Affair

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfnRI5JTcXk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbLD2JyFAlE

Libya

1986: Disco club is bombed in West Germany

US finds out country of Libya is behind the bombing

Reagan orders airstrikes against Libya

Libyan leader Khadafi vows revenge

1988: Libyan agents bomb Pan Am flt 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, 243 killed

Collapse of the Soviet Union

•1983: Reagan starts a new Arms Race (billions $)

•Reagan spends billions a space-based defense system known as SDI or “Star Wars”

•Soviet Leader Mikhail Gorbachev who is promising reforms in his country can’t keep up w/ US spending

•In several summits, Reagan pressures Gorbachev to allow more freedom in USSR & Eastern Bloc

•Soviet satellites in Eastern Europe begin breaking away from Communism

•Soviet Union collapses in 1991

•However, spending billions on defense along with Reagan tax cuts creates a huge deficit