cold war strategies intervention, engagement, confrontation
TRANSCRIPT
Cold War Strategies
Intervention, Engagement, Confrontation
What Never Changed
Goals:
1. Containment of USSR
2. Avoiding Nuclear War
The Dilemma: How do you contain the USSR without risking a nuclear war?
What Did ChangeStrategies1.Intervention (Korea and Vietnam)
– Containment by direct political-military involvement
2.Engagement (Détente)– Containment by management of Soviet
behavior
3.Confrontation (Reagan Doctrine)– Containment by challenging the Soviets
The Dynamic• Intervention was the logic of
containment in action
• Was engagement the result of the failures of intervention?
• Was confrontation the result of the failures of engagement?
1. Intervention1. Intervention
How do you fight communism and avoid nuclear war?
Korean War 1950-53Korean War 1950-53
• Limited WarLimited War– GoalsGoals
– WeaponsWeapons
– GeographyGeography
– Talk and FightTalk and Fight
Viet Nam (after 1954)Viet Nam (after 1954)
Strategic LogicStrategic Logic
Domino TheoryDomino Theory
Containment and Domestic Containment and Domestic PoliticsPolitics
JFKJFK LBJLBJ
The Dilemma of Viet NamThe Dilemma of Viet Nam
• Can’t lose South Viet NamCan’t lose South Viet Nam
• Can’t do what we need to winCan’t do what we need to win– Insurgency vs. counterinsurgencyInsurgency vs. counterinsurgency– WW III?WW III?
• SolutionSolution– Limited WarLimited War– Coercive Diplomacy (Bombing)Coercive Diplomacy (Bombing)
From LBJ to Nixon 1968-69From LBJ to Nixon 1968-69
LBJ says LBJ says Goodbye Nixon’s WarNixon’s War• More bombingMore bombing• WithdrawingWithdrawing
Post-Vietnam Changes
1. Congressional Power
2. Foreign Policy Consensus
3. Vietnam Syndrome
1. Congress Challenges 1. Congress Challenges President in Foreign PolicyPresident in Foreign Policy
• War Powers Resolution 1973 (PL 93-War Powers Resolution 1973 (PL 93-148) (from Federation of American 148) (from Federation of American Scientists , see Appendix 3)Scientists , see Appendix 3)
• The Use of ForceThe Use of Force
Congress finds its real power: $$Congress finds its real power: $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
• Clark Amendment Clark Amendment
to Arms Export to Arms Export
Control Act 1976Control Act 1976
2. End of US Foreign Policy 2. End of US Foreign Policy Consensus?Consensus?
Truman Doctrine: ConsensusTruman Doctrine: Consensus
LL R R
Post-Viet Nam: PolarizationPost-Viet Nam: Polarization
3. Viet Nam Syndrome3. Viet Nam Syndrome
http://www.mbc.edu/faculty/gbowen/PublicOpinionVietWar.htmhttp://www.mbc.edu/faculty/gbowen/PublicOpinionVietWar.htm
2. Engagement The Post-Vietnam Dilemma
How do you
• contain and compete with the USSR while
• avoiding nuclear war and
• avoiding another Korea or Vietnam?
Cuban Missile Crisis 1962 1962
Nixon and Henry KissingerNixon and Henry Kissinger
Why Détente?Why Détente?
• Viet Nam SyndromeViet Nam Syndrome
• Strategic parityStrategic parity
• Sino-Soviet SplitSino-Soviet Split
Viet Nam SyndromeViet Nam Syndrome
Nixon recognizes this:Nixon recognizes this:
• Nixon Doctrine Nixon Doctrine – Remarks July 25, 1969 (see Q and A)(see Q and A)– Address to the nation, Nov. 3, 1969Address to the nation, Nov. 3, 1969
Strategic Parity
Sino-Soviet Conflict
DetenteDetente
1.1. Still containmentStill containment
2.2. New Goal: Change USSR New Goal: Change USSR behaviorbehavior
3.3. Old-school Balance of PowerOld-school Balance of Power
1.1. Arms Control PolicyArms Control PolicyStrategic Arms Limitation Talks, May 1972Strategic Arms Limitation Talks, May 1972• Interim Agreement on Offensive ArmsInterim Agreement on Offensive Arms• Anti-Ballistic Missile TreatyAnti-Ballistic Missile Treaty
2. Triangular Diplomacy2. Triangular Diplomacy
USUS
USSRUSSR PRCPRC
Kissinger to China, July 1971Kissinger to China, July 1971
Nixon-Mao Summit in China, Nixon-Mao Summit in China, February 1972February 1972
Shanghai CommuniqueShanghai Communique
China and TaiwanChina and Taiwan
Détente Collapses:Ford and Carter
SALT IISALT II
1979-1981 Crises
Détente Collapse
• Iran
• Afghanistan
Iranian RevolutionIranian Revolution
Shah of IranShah of Iran
Mohammed Reza PahleviMohammed Reza Pahlevi
Ayatollah Ruhollah Ayatollah Ruhollah KhomeiniKhomeini
November 4, 1979November 4, 1979
December 1979
““Arc of Crisis”Arc of Crisis”
Détente EndsDétente Ends
• Carter Gets ToughCarter Gets Tough
• SALT II DiesSALT II Dies
• Defense BuildupDefense Buildup
• Carter DoctrineCarter Doctrine
• Rescue MissionRescue Mission– Secretary of State Cyrus Vance resignsSecretary of State Cyrus Vance resigns
Rescue Mission April 1980Rescue Mission April 1980
3. Confrontation
The dilemma of
• containing the USSR,
• avoiding nuclear war,
• avoiding direct US intervention,
• but pressuring the USSR
Ronald Reagan
Reagan’s View of the USSR
“Evil Empire”
Speech to the National Association of Evangelicals
March 10, 1983
Realist Secretaries of State
Alexander Haig
1981-1982
George Shultz
1982-1989
The Problems
1. Third Wave of Marxism
2. Viet Nam Syndrome
3. Decade of Neglect
1. Third Wave of MarxismEthiopia 1974
Cambodia 1975
Vietnam 1975
Angola 1975
Mozambique 1975
Afghanistan 1979
Nicaragua 1979
Grenada 1979
Solution to Third Wave: Reagan Doctrine
NicaraguaContras
Contras
Afghanistan
Mujahadin
Angola• UNITA’s Jonas Savimbi
1980s Map of the Cold Warhttp://imgur.com/Ah9tS
2. Viet Nam Syndrome• Fall of Saigon, April 29, 1975
Solution to Viet Nam Syndrome: Use Force
• Libya 1981
Grenada 1983
Beirut 1983
3. Decade of Neglect
From: ARMING AMERICA: Attention and Inertia in U.S. National Security Spending http://dept.lamar.edu/polisci/TRUE/True_art_tlp.html
Soviet ICBMs 1980s-90s
• From, US Dept of Defense, Soviet Military Power, 1987: http://www.fas.org/irp/dia/product/smp_87_ch2.htm
Solution to Decade of Neglect
• Source: Center for Defense Information 2004 Yearbook (http://www.mtholyoke.edu/~jephrean/classweb/United%20States.html)
Strategic Defense InitiativeReagan’s SDI speech, March 23, 1983
From: http://www.milnet.com/pentagon/spacecom/sdi.gif
Political/Cultural Effects
When Reagan and Congress Disagree?
• Nicaragua: Boland Amendment restricts aid to Contras (1984)– Administration funds them covertly
• Iran: Legislation prohibiting US arms sales to Iran– Sells weapons to Iran in exchange for
hostages held by Hezbollah-related groups
Big Picture Issue
• Congress has the power to restrict US government spending– Can the President ignore those restrictions?– Can President ignore aspects of law President
does not agree with?– If so, does Congress have any role to shape
foreign policy?– If so, do we have checks and balances?
The Iran Contra Scandal(for reference only)
Private US $Foreign Gov’t $
$$$
Hostages
weapons
weapons
Swiss bank accounts;controlled by North
Contras
Israel
Iran
US
Key Phrase of 2nd Boland Amendment: (1984-1986)
( for reference only)
• ''No funds available to the Central Intelligence Agency, the Department of Defense or any other agency or entity of the United States involved in intelligence activities may be obligated or expended for the purpose or which would have the effect of supporting, directly or indirectly, military or paramilitary operations in Nicaragua by any nation, group, organization, movement or individual.”
From: NY TIMES on line: http://www.nytimes.com/1987/07/16/world/iran-contra-hearings-text-of-key-amendment.html?pagewanted=1; For Excerpts and explanation, from US Government Accountability Office – GAO, http://redbook.gao.gov/14/fl0067296.php
Legislative Limits on Arms Sales(for reference only)
Arms Export Control Acts• No arms sales to nations determined to be
sponsors of terrorism (US State Dept determines which nations fit into this category; it included Iran)
• No arms sales of over $25 m in value without congressional approval (1974); A 1976 bill lowered this to $14 m for sophisticated weaponry and $50 m for other items– Both the House and Senate would have to reject
the arms sales