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Anti-communism and Reagan’s foreign policy

Anti-communism and Reagan’s foreign policy. The guiding principle of Reagan’s foreign policy was anti-communism. “Evil Empire”. Reagan adopted a more aggressive attitude toward the Soviet Union. Defense Spending.

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Anti-communism and Reagan’s foreign policy

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  1. Anti-communism and Reagan’s foreign policy

  2. The guiding principle of Reagan’s foreign policy was anti-communism

  3. “Evil Empire” • Reagan adopted a more aggressive attitude toward the Soviet Union.

  4. Defense Spending • Dramatic increase from $158 billion during the Carter administration to $216 billion per year. This is higher than during the Vietnam War. • Bombers • Missiles • Nuclear weapons in Europe • Larger Navy • A rapid deployment force

  5. Reactions to Reagan’s policies • Rally of 700,000 people in NYC in 1982 • Hundreds of thousands of Europeans protest deployment of new US missiles in NATO countries • An Iranian-sponsored terrorist group exploded a car bomb near a Marine barracks in Lebanon killing 241 Americans

  6. After Lebanon • Army Colonel Colin Powell approved decision to withdraw from Lebanon, believing that “America [was]sticking its hand into a thousand-year-old hornet’s nest.”

  7. Reagan advocates SDI • Strategic Defense Initiative • So-called “Star Wars” • SDI violated 1972 anti-ballistic missile treaty • Reagan’s ideas on SDI overly optimistic

  8. Non-state organizations • Most countries, including the Soviets, could not afford to compete with the money the US invested in weaponry • Non-state organizations or “terrorist groups” responded with guerilla tactics, bombings, and attacks.

  9. Hezbollah • A Shite Muslim group backed by Iran and Syria, founded in Lebanon in 1982 after Israeli forces invaded that country to stop the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) from using Lebanon to launch attacks on Israel.

  10. Fight against Communism around the world • Aided Afghan rebels against the Soviet-backed government in Afghanistan • In the African nation of Angola, the US armed rebel forces against the government supported by the Soviets and Cuba • Sided with South African government which was brutally suppressing black protest against apartheid.

  11. Congress • US Congress went against Reagan’s policy in So Africa, imposing sanctions against that government • US Congress would not approve aid for the Nicaraguan “contras” • US Congress approved $4 billion during the 1980s sent to El Salvador’s brutal military

  12. Fight Against Communism, Caribbean and Latin America • Reagan Administration invades Grenada • Propped up the brutal government of El Salvador because it was anti-communist • Supported the “contras” in Nicaragua, those opposing the Socialist but elected government

  13. What accounts for the “thaw” in the Cold War? • A new Soviet leader in Mikail Gorbachev who introduced some elements of free enterprise • “glasnost” or greater freedom of expression • Huge expenditures on defense spending were a motivation for arms reductions talks

  14. Gorbachev • Arrives at agreement with Reagan to eliminate all short and medium range missiles from Europe • Announced a gradual withdrawal from Afghanistan

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