Reagan & 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 group called the Contras -Contras incompetent – Congress cuts off funding in 1985 Reagan Doctrine in Central America
Iran-Contra Scandal 1983: Reagan sends US Marines to Lebanon to help in civil war, suicide bombers hit Marine barracks, kill : 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
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