1. Reagan & The Cold War
What policies does Ronald Reagan use in dealing with the Communist World?

2. Reagan’s Foreign Policy: End of Détente
1982: In a speech Reagan calls the Soviet Union an “Evil Empire”
Reagan Doctrine states US will aid any nation trying to stop communism
Ex: Reagan invades Grenada when Communists try to take over, Reagan sends aid to Mujahideen fighting Soviets in Afghanistan

3. Reagan Doctrine in Central America (1980s)
Nicaragua:
-Reagan backs an anti-communist
Contras against Daniel Ortega’s
Sandanista govt
-Contras incompetent – Congress
cuts off their funding
El Salvador:
-Reagan backs the El Salvadoran
Army in a civil war against
Communist FMLN
-ES Army uses money to fund death
squads terrorizing the country

4. Iran-Contra Scandal
1983: Reagan sends US Marines to Lebanon, suicide bombers kill 241 Marines, terrorists begin kidnapping Americans
1986: Reagan Admin secretly selling arms to Iran (in their war with US-backed Iraq) to get hostages back
Ntl Security Advisor John Poindexter & Col. Oliver North were taking profits from arms sales and sending them to Contras
Reagan only admits to knowing of arms for hostages

5. Iran-Contra Affair Questions
1. Who knew about the money?
2. How did money get to the Contras?
3. What did Meese say about the scandal?

6. Libya
1986: W. German Disco club is bombed
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

7. Challenging the Soviet Union
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
However, spending billions on defense along with Reagan tax cuts creates a huge deficit