America and the World

1. Americaand the World History 17B Lecture 23

2. Post-Cold War World • The Good Old Days and New Problems • End of Cold War meant loss of superpower stability and the emergence of new problems.

3. Why did 9-11 happen? • Cultural/Moral Explanation • Terrorists are uncivilized, barbaric • Have no value for life; evil • Terrorists hate America and all it stands for • But why?

4. Root Causes • Cultural and moral arguments do not look at the root causes. • American foreign policy during and after the Cold War is among those causes.

5. Was its end inevitable? No – war was always a possibility. Nixon’s Détente Reducing superpower tensions by seeking mutual interests. Trade agreement, recognition of peaceful coexistence, arms control. Elimination of Anti-Ballistic Missiles (ABMs) The End of the Cold War Richard Nixon and Leonid Brezhnev

6. Nixon’s Détente Détente’s Failure Differing perceptions Nixon oversold it as triumph of liberal democracy. Brezhnev felt it made world safe for inevitable class struggle. Ford distanced himself from policy, and Carter buried it after 1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. The End of the Cold War Afghanistan under Soviet occupation.

7. The End of the Cold War • Arms Race • Despite détente, arms race continued. • Soviet numerical nuclear superiority vs. U.S. technological nuclear superiority. • Reagan and the “Window of Vulnerability” • His critics said MAD was still relevant.

8. Arms Race Public Fears U.S. public feared both USSR and Reagan’s apparent eagerness for war. Freeze Movement Reagan and SDI Reagan not a warmonger, but Strategic Defense Initiative an unrealistic approach to end nuclear threat. Could spark a new arms race. The End of the Cold War

9. Winning the Cold War Was bankrupting the USSR and forcing it into negotiations Reagan’s plan all along? Doubtful; Administration was shocked and skeptical about post-1985 reforms in USSR. Mikhail Gorbachev’s Role Seized initiative in 1985 to better relations. Reagan was skeptical at first, but later embraced Gorbachev. Both share credit for ending Cold War. The End of the Cold War

10. Collapse of Soviet communism brought other problems. National Disintegration and Ethnic Conflict Communism held ethnic strife in check, but countries began to disintegrate after 1991. Civil War and ethnic cleansing in former Yugoslavia. Dayton Accords (1995) ends fighting, but not tension. Post-Cold War World

11. Other Problems Rise Humanitarian Crises Somalia: Peacekeeping and famine relief mission in Somalia (1992-1993) turns tragic. U.S. Pullout from Africa left it on sidelines when 500,000 are slaughtered in Rwanda genocide in 1994. Post-Cold War World

12. Other Problems Rise Environmental Problems Global Warming growing worse. Sacrifices necessary to reduce greenhouse gases. AIDS Crisis Millions in Africa infected with HIV. World poised for global pandemic. Post-Cold War World

13. Multilateralism U.S. must take a role in offering solutions to world problems. But how? Working with allies Bush, Sr. – Gulf War Coalition. Clinton – international treaties on AIDS, environment, human rights. May require U.S. to put aside short-term national interests for long-term international gains. Post-Cold War World

14. Unilateralism and George W. Bush Multilateralism in Afghanistan. But overall, a unilateralist (U.S. should “go it alone”). Pulling out of International Treaties that do not serve short-term U.S. national interests. War in Iraq. A “Realist” approach: U.S. should act like the superpower it is. Post-Cold War World

15. Post-Cold War World Many view America as a bully – even an enemy.

16. International Terrorism • Explaining 9-11 • Put aside cultural and moral arguments. • We cannot solve the problem unless we look at the root causes: • U.S. foreign policy in Mid-East during and after Cold War.

17. U.S. Foreign Policy in Middle East Contain expansion of Soviet communism. Secure the flow of oil. Maintain stability in the region through pro-U.S. governments. Support of Israel (1948-present) Perceived as strong and stable ally in the region. Anger and animosity from Arabs. International Terrorism

18. Eisenhower Doctrine U.S. commitment to repel communism and secure oil. 14,000 U.S. troops entered Lebanon to back pro-U.S. government Iran nationalized its oil fields. CIA overthrew government and installed the Shah. International Terrorism Shah of Iran Iran PM Mossadegh

19. Blowback Support of Shah led to Iranian Islamic Revolution (1979) 53 American hostages taken from U.S. Embassy. U.S. Support of Mujaheddin in Afghanistan (1979-1990) Osama bin Laden received American aid. International Terrorism

20. International Terrorism • Continued U.S. Presence in Mid-East • U.S. troops in Lebanon again (1982) • “Peacekeeper” role but began shelling civilian pop centers in response to snipers. • Maintain flow of oil • Foreign oil tankers flew under U.S. flag (mid-1980s) • Iranian passenger jet shot down by US, killing all 290 people aboard (July 1988).

21. The Gulf War (1991) A war for oil. International Terrorism

22. International Terrorism • U.S. Hegemony over the Middle East • Permanent U.S. bases in Saudi Arabia • U.S. led Embargo of Iraq (1990- present) • Thousands of Iraqi civilians have died.

23. Religious Fundamentalism Why does Osama bin Laden have followers who seek to destroy Modern Society? Because benefits of modern society have passed them by. Poverty and repression are daily experiences. Religious Fundamentalism provides order and promised salvation in a world of change and disorder. No compromise between salvation and damnation. International Terrorism

24. Further Challenges Ahead International Terrorism the greatest challenge. Current military actions in Iraq are breeding more terrorists. More terrorism unless the U.S. re-evaluates its foreign policy. What needs to happen? Promotion of democracy and economic stability in Mid-East. Further efforts towards a peace plan in Israel. Less U.S. dependence on oil. International Terrorism