Cold Warrevisionists viewpoint

1
Cold War-revisionists viewpoint

• The US hegemon in post war world

2
Dobson and Marsh

• British historians wrote US Foreign Policy Since
  1945
  
• Cold War was fault of US, not Russia

3
Premise

• US gins up so-called Communists threats in order
  to keep countries free of non-US influence. With
  propaganda and intimidation, US supports
  dictators rather than let socialist or communist
  governments take hold
• Called neo-imperialism. OAS outlawed this, US
  did it anyway. Examples to follow.

4
Guatemala 1954

• President Eisenhower
• Guatemala, most land held by United Fruit
  Company, US owned. Socialist reformer Jacobo
  Arbentz came to power, he nationalized company
  and the land and offered 600,000. Company
  wanted 15 million.
• Eastern bloc (USSR controlled) sent arms. US
  said new government was communist and communist
  backed.
  

5
US response

• Dulles, US Secretary of State, said Guatemala
  takeover threatened Panama Canal and Central
  America and Mexico and eventually US.
  
• US trained an army in friendly Somoza-led
  Nicaragua which invaded and dropped dynamite
  charges on Guatemala City and US-backed leader
  Armas took over, returned land to fruit company,
  shot supporters of reform regime.
• Set a pattern for future attempts. Small military
  action, installation of friendly dictator, with
  hope he would get better in future. At least
  he wasnt Commie.

6
Alliance for Progress

• 1961 AGREEMENT BY Kennedy with South American
  countries to help (give money) for reforms and
  solve poverty.
  
• FYI-has giving money ever worked? Has poverty
  ever been alleviated by foreign aid?
  
• Money went into pockets of leaders and wealthy,
  Did no good for people. Reforms never happened.
  Wealthy few had land just like under Spain and
  Portugal.

7
Dominican Republic 1965

• President Johnson
• US backed military government of Donald Cabral
  caused instability, there was some Communist
  opposition. US mounted invasion, Peace was
  restored. Political repression remained.

8
Chile 1970-73

• President Nixon
• US money used to encourage political opposition
  and undermine the economy to sabotage government
  of pro-Marxist President Allende.
  
• 1973 President Pinochet mounted military coup
  (US did not help or participate in this coup) and
  headed terrible regime, killed many political
  enemies. Allende killed
• Pinochet tried in old age for these crimes. Prior
  to Pinochet Chile had been peaceful and
  progressive.

9
Grenada 1983

• President Reagan
• Cuba was building an airport on island of Grenada
  which CIA said could be used to land Russian
  planes in the Caribbean. US invaded, new
  elections created a less radical, stable
  government, no more problems.
• Grenada had many US residents, students

10
Nicaragua 1985-86

• President Reagan
• US friendly leader Somoza had been assassinated
  by Marxists. 1956
  
• Nicaragua had Marxist Sandinista government.
  Contra rebels were fighting the government. US
  wanted to help rebels, Congress said no. CIA
  covertly sent arms to Iran and took money to help
  the Contra rebels. This was illegal and
  corruptive. Iran-Contra Affair, Col. North,
• Sandinistas are now back in power-Daniel Ortega