Foreign Policy After the Cold War

1
Foreign Policy After the Cold War

• Chapter 25, Section 4 Notes

2
Objectives

• Identify changes in the Communist world that
  ended the Cold War
• Summarize US actions taken to influence Central
  American and Caribbean affairs
• Describe the events leading to the Iran-Contra
  affair
• Analyze US involvement in the Persian Gulf War

3
Main Idea and Terms/Names

• The end of the Cold War, marked by the break up
  of the Soviet Union in 1991, led to a redirection
  of many US goals and policies

• Mikhail Gorbachev
• Glasnost
• Perestroika
• INF Treaty
• Sandinistas
• Contras
• Operation Desert Storm

4
The Cold War Ends

• 1985 Mikhail Gorbachev became general secretary
  of Communist Party in the USSR
• Marked new era in USSR
• Reagan added pressure the already weak Soviet
  economy
• Doubled defense spending
• To keep up, Soviet economy was pushed to brink

5
Gorbachev

• Glasnost allowed open criticism of Soviet
  government and freedom of the press
• Perestroikarestructured Soviet economy
• Less control over economy
• Some private enterprise
• Steps towards democracy

6
Gorbachev

• Realized USSR needed better relations with US
• Would allow them to reduce defense spending
• INF Treaty
• Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces
• One site inspections of each other

7
Soviet Union Declines

• Gorbachev introduced democratic ideals
• 14 non-Russian republics declared independence in
  1991
• Gorbachev resigned
• Soviet Union dissolved
• 1992- Presidents Bush and Yeltsin formally end
  Cold War

8
Other Communist Regimes

• East Germany Gorbachev encouraged a move
  towards democ.
• Reagan Mr. Gorbachev tear down this wall
• 1989- East Germany opened the Berlin Wall
• 1990-Two Germanies were united
• Yugoslavia collapsed (ethnic rivalries turned
  into a brutal war)

9
Central American/Caribbean Policy

• Nicaragua
• Civil War between Somoza and Sandinistas (rebels)
• Carter recognized Sandinistas and sent aid
  (USSR/Cuba did too)
• Reagan cut off aid and supported Contras
• CIA directed operations without Congresss
  approval
• Congress passed Boland Amendment (no aid to
  Contras)
• 1990 free elections in Nicaragua

10
Central American/Caribbean Policy

• Grenada- US used force to overthrow the pro-Cuban
  govt.
• Replaced it with a US friendly gov.
• Panama US soldiers sent to overthrow Manuel
  Noriega for drug trafficking
• Taken to Miami for trial -- convicted

11
Caribbean
12
Iran Contra Scandal

• 1983 Iranian terrorists took American hostages
  in Lebanon
• Reagan denounced Iran and asked its allies not to
  send arms to Iran
• Reagan approved the sale of arms to Iran
• Iran promised to release hostages
• Reagan sent profits of arms sales to Contras in
  Nicaragua
• Lt. Col. Oliver North found guilty of violating
  US policy

13
Persian Gulf War

• Iran and Iraq were at war expensive
• In 1990, Iraqi troops invaded a disputed area of
  Kuwait (for the oil)
• Then conquered Saudi Arabia

14
Persian Gulf War

• Pres. Bush organized an international coalition
  against Iraqi aggression
• Launched Operation Desert Storm to liberate
  Kuwait
• Massive Air assault
• Then a ground assault from Saudi Arabia
• Led by StorminNorman Schwarzkopf
• 2 months later, Kuwait was liberated
• Iraqi soldiers and people suffered greatly

15
Bushs Domestic Policies

• Rising deficits
• Recession 1990-1992
• Bush was forced to raise taxes despite pledge
  (read my lips)
• Approval rating dropped
• Doomed for reelection