1)End of the Cold War 2)Persian Gulf War / Operation Desert Storm

President Reagan during the 1980s Followed an anti-Soviet policy – Characterized the Soviet Union as “the evil empire” – Dedicated massive amounts of money to military spending (including “Star Wars”) – Successfully confronted communist challenges in Grenada and Nicaragua Reagan delivers his “Mr. Gorbachev, Tear Down This Wall!” speech in June 1987

Mikhail Gorbachev The USSR needed economic and political reforms Gorbachev started two policies: – perestroika (the “restructuring” or decentralizing of the economy) – glasnost (“openness,” allowing more freedom of religion and speech, including allowing people to discuss politics openly Gorbachev’s reforms were difficult to put into action By the summer of 1990, Gorbachev’s reforms were no longer being used

Collapse of the Soviet Empire Revolutions broke out throughout eastern Europe – communist dictators are overthrown in Poland, Bulgaria, and Romania – Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia broke apart The Berlin Wall came down on November 9, 1989 and East and West Germany united in 1990

Collapse of the Soviet Union August 1991 = Soviet republics declare independence from the USSR – Also in August = a group of Communist officials and army officers stages a coup (overthrow of the government) Dec 1991 = Gorbachev announced the end of the Soviet Union – Boris Yeltsin, the 1 st President of the Russian Federation, outlawed the Communist Party in Russia US now the sole superpower in the world and free to use its military power

Collapse of the Soviet Empire AP photo of Boris Yelstin atop an armored personnel carrier encouraging resistance to the coup

The New World Order Theme: International cooperation and military intervention in the post-Cold War era

“New World Order” “We stand today at a unique and extraordinary moment. The crisis in the Persian Gulf, as grave as it is, also offers a rare opportunity to move toward an historic period of cooperation. Out of these troubled times, our fifth objective -- a new world order -- can emerge: a new era -- freer from the threat of terror, stronger in the pursuit of justice, and more secure in the quest for peace. An era in which the nations of the world, East and West, North and South, can prosper and live in harmony.…

“New World Order” ….A hundred generations have searched for this elusive path to peace, while a thousand wars raged across the span of human endeavor. Today that new world is struggling to be born, a world quite different from the one we’ve known. A world where the rule of law supplants the rule of the jungle. A world in which nations recognize the shared responsibility for freedom and justice. A world where the strong respect the rights of the weak.” – President George H. W. Bush Sept 11, 1990

Post-Cold War Environment Cold War threats were potentially catastrophic but they were also measurable and somewhat predictable The desire to avoid confrontation with the USSR had provided a certain degree of order and stability The post Cold War period was much more vague and uncertain and many new threats emerged CIA Director James Woolsey described the post-Cold War environment by saying, “We have slain a large dragon (the U.S.S.R.) — but we now live in a jungle filled with a bewildering variety of poisonous snakes. In many ways, the dragon was easier to keep track of.”

Tragedy in Tiananmen Square China was determined to stay communist – had relaxed controls on the economy, but continued to suppress political speech and opposition to the gov’t May 1989  Chinese students and workers held demonstrations for democracy in Beijing – (China’s capital) In June  government tanks and soldiers stop their protests in Tiananmen Square Many people were killed, hundreds of pro-democracy activists were arrested – Many were later sentenced to death

The Persian Gulf War/Operation Desert Storm January 16, February 27, 1991 Persian Gulf made up of: Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates

The Middle East

Background Majority of region controlled by Britain until post- WWII Long-standing disputes between Iraq and Kuwait – 1) Iraq argues Kuwait is an Iraqi province Iraq was ready to invade in 1961 after Kuwait was granted independence by Britain – 2) Iraq wants Kuwait to forgive debts Iraq owes from Iran-Iraq War Claims Kuwait actually owes Iraq for “defending” it against Iran – 3) Iraq accuses Kuwait of overproduction of oil/theft of Iraqi oil

Beginning of the conflict August 1990  Saddam Hussein, the dictator of Iraq, invaded Kuwait January 16, 1991  the US invaded Iraq because it was upholding the Carter Doctrine – States that if any country tries to control the Persian Gulf region the US will see it as an attack on US interests and will use military force in response if necessary

Using Deception to trick the Iraqis Leaflets such as these deceived the Iraqis into thinking the main attack would be amphibious

Operation Desert Storm Our attack on Iraq as known to Americans 6 weeks of bombing (USA bombing Iraq) and only 100 hours of ground war! Cease-fire issued by George Bush, Sr. on February 28, 1991 The war made Hussein a hero to Arab and Muslim extremist groups  to them, he stood up to the Western Powers – These extremist groups start to resent U.S. involvement in Saudi Arabia

Legacy of Desert Storm In 100 hours of combat, American forces destroyed or captured more than 3,000 tanks, 1,400 armored carriers, and 2,200 artillery pieces Captured almost 20,000 square miles of territory Only about 140 soldiers died in direct combat Erased the “Vietnam Syndrome” – the belief that the US will not gradually go into a questionable war without a clear objective, overwhelming military force, an endgame strategy, and (most important) the support of Congress and the American people

Iraq The objective of Desert Storm was to liberate Kuwait, not to destroy the Iraqi army or remove Saddam Even though the coalition experienced amazing military success, Saddam remained in power and crushed short-lived uprisings by the Kurds in the north and the Shia in the south Iraqi Freedom would have the objective of changing the regime in Iraq

Panama 1978 = US under Carter agreed to give control of the Panama Canal back to Panama by the year 2000 – US wanted to make sure Panama’s gov’t was both stable and pro-American General Manuel Noriega, dictator of Panama = stopped cooperating with the US – Helped drug traffickers, harassed US military personnel defending the canal Dec 1989, Bush ordered American troops to invade Panama – Troops seize Noriega  sent to US to stand trial on drug charges – Troops help Panamanians hold elections and organize a new government