Tuesday April 21, 2009

IRAN CONTRA AFFAIR
- Bolin created an ammendment to cut off funds for the contra through congress, however Reagan was extremly oppposed to this act.
-In November 1986 a Lebanese magazine published an article that said the Reagan administration was selling arms to Iran to secure a deal to release America hostages being held by Iranian militants, particularly CIA agent Chief Buckley.

• this violated Reagans policy not to help iran in the war against iraq
• It also went against Reagans policy in which they said they would not negotiate with countries for their hostages

Eventually the Reagan administration confirmed the arms sells to Iran that the "profits" had been passed to the contra.

Marine LTC Oliver North who was assigned to the national security council as the point man for testyfiying against contra affairs, was granted immunity after being convicted in court after testifying.

-Buckley was tortured to death

-Reagan succesfully maintained he knew no details of either the hostage release or money to the contra

REFORM IN THE SOVIET UNION

Gorbachev became the leader in the Soviet Union, he soon realized he had several economi problems to deal with upon election to office

-he took some troops out of Afghanistan

-and cut back support to Cuba and Nicauragua

he then created two policies

1. GLASNOST: "openess" that people speak out, form interest groups and are able to criticize
2. PERESTROIKA: "reconstruction" economic liberalization permitting some small bussinesses and a shift in economic decision making to give factory managers more in control.

-Gorbachev and Reagan begin arms control talk

• Oct 1986 both men meet in Iceland, Reagan shocked both Gorbachev and the U.S when he proposed total nuclear weapons ban
• Dec 1987 Reagan and Gorbachev signed a treaty reducing each nations supply of intermediate range missles INF treaty
• Gorbachev 1988, gets rid of old soviet policy that other countries have to have communism based on the Soviet Union...which led to the end of communism and the collapse of the Soviet Union

FIRST BUSH PRESIDENCY:

VP Bush gained republican nomination in 1988 w/ ease eventhough the Reagan presidency was losing popularity. Bush had the lowest voter turnout in 64 years. His campaign slogan was "no new taxes", however economic growth was declining and he had agreed to creating new taxes so his party turned against him.

• 1989 Polish gov. falls solidarity oust pro-soviet gov
• pro-Soviet gov of East Germany fall Nov 1989
• East and West Berlin tore down the great wall, commi gov forced out of Czech, Hingaria, Romanis and Bulgaroa. Yugoslavia desinegrated as ethnic hatres flared
• most dramatic- Russia's president Boris Yeltsin led Russia out of what was left for the Soviet Union leaving 12 independant countries and no Soviet Union
• Bush then turns his attention to the "war on drugs" Panama deeply involved transit point. Mauel Norega was pres of Panama and was also involved in drug traffiking which becomes huge embarrasment to Bush so he decides hes going to push Noriega out of presidency in Dec 1989.

-us marines sent to Panama in operation just cause

-Noreiga found refuge in a catholic church

- when he was extradited to the US to stand trial, in April 1992 he was convicted of Cocaine traffiking and he is still in prison

August 1990 Iraq pres. Saddam Husein sent his troops into Gulf Oil Kingdom of Kuwait. Bush feared Saudia Arabia was next...Operation Desert Shield sent 230,000 troops into the country. Taking case to the UN he won the authorization to lead an invasion force if Iraq had not withdrawn by January 15, 1991. Bush amassed a force of 500,000 americans and 200,000 others and got congress to approve a resolution. when the deadline passed the US launcged and air attack in February, 24 US ground troops led the offensive and in 4 days had shattered the Iraq armies.

THE US

-maintained economic sanctions of Iraq, worked to dismantle all nuclear and bioligical weapons. also enforced a "no fly" zone over northern Iraq to protect the Kuridish population.