The Cold War Finally Thaws Out

Korean War (1950-1953)Vietnam War (1963-1973)Afghan War (1979-1989)

Korean war

• Split after WWII between US and USSR– Temporary gov’ts

created in images of their major allies

– Reunification of Korea desired by BOTH sides

So Who Gets Control?

• Kim Il Sung leads North – Communist

• Syngman Rhee leads South – Democrat

• In 1949 the US and USSR agree to leave the country– USSR leaves military

equipment in the North

Condemning the South Koreans

• US Sec of State Dean Acheson says the protection of the South is now the UN’s responsibility

Invasion and Counter-Punch

• 25 June 1950 – North Korea invades very quickly and pushes for Seoul

• Battle of Pusan Perimeter (4 Aug – 18 Sept 1950)– 140,000 UN troops were

pushed to the brink of defeat but rallied at the Pusan Perimeter

– UN troops hold and North Korea is forced back after a counter attack at Inchon

Move North

• After the successful counter-attack at Inchon, UN under MacArthur moves north quickly–Make it to the Yalu

River

• China threatens US and then gets into the fray pushing UN back below 38th

Truman and the End of the War• MacArthur wants to use

nukes…makes it public– Truman fires him for

insubordination

• UN does not want to get into a bigger battle in China

• Eisenhower signs armistice

• 27 July 1953 - DMZ created but no treaty is ever signed

Vietnam War

• Before WWII – French controlled– Ho Chi Minh tried to get

the US to help him against France but the US refused

• US wants to rebuild Europe

The 1st Vietnam War

• France tries to rebuild empire

• Lose at Dien Bien Phu (1954)– Splits Vietnam in two

on the 17th parallel– Agreement for

general election that the US refuses to agree to (afraid of communists)

South Vietnam• Declared the Republic of

Vietnam with Ngo Dinh Diem as president– The National Liberation

Front (NLF), or Viet Cong, established in S. Vietnam• Support Communist

movement and Ho Chi Minh

• JFK orders 16,000 troops in to aid the South against the Viet Cong

Gulf of Tonkin Incident• 2 Aug 1964 North

Vietnam attacked USS Maddox – LBJ decides to

escalate the war

• Gulf of Tonkin Resolution – The president make

take all necessary measure to prevent further aggression in Southeast Asia

A Hard War

• Many peasants were rebels – Knew the land– More people were

willing to help them– Turned all villages

into military targets

• North was aided by USSR and China– Were vicious in their

attacks but there was retaliation

Execution of a Viet Cong

Napalm and Agent Orange• Napalm – mixture

of thickening/gelling agent and petroleum for an incendiary device– Widely used as an

anti-personnel device

• Agent Orange – herbicide used on trees and vegetation in Vietnam

Tet Offensive• 1968 – guerilla forces

attacked American and South Vietnamese forces in all across the South– Seen as a military loss

for the communists because they didn’t take any cities

– Turning point in the public opinion of the war in the US

Paris Peace Accords - 1973• Cease-fire

negotiated – Decision:

• US withdraws troops

• North Vietnam agrees to not send in any more troops

• 1975 – North Vietnam reinvades and conquers the country

Afghanistan War

Mohammad Zahir Shah

• Last king of Afghanistan (1933-1973)– Provided an era

of stable gov’t for his country• Including

irrigation and highway construction

Communist Revolution

• 1973 – Daoud Khan– Considered progressive:

rights for women and two five-year modernization plans

• 1975 – Muhammad Taraki– Tried to use Marxist land and

social reforms but people revolted

– Went to the Soviets for assistance

– Forced to name Hafizullah Amin as prime minister who then took over the country

The Mujahedeen

• Muslim guerilla force created to overthrow the Amin gov’t through jihad

• Russians invade Afghanistan but insist they were invited

• 27 Dec 1979 – Russians shoot Amin and he is replaced by Babrak Kamal

• Heavily armored transport• Designed to destroy the jihadists

HIND HELICOPTER

The US aids the Afghans?

• Ronald Reagan sees new Soviet expansion– Challenges it

• Gives clandestine aid to MUJAHDEEN via CIA through Pakistan

A Pebble Always Makes a Ripple Effect

• Pakistan (multi-ethnic) was worried to give arms to nationalist groups– Only gave aid to Islamist

groups

• Northern Alliance does our work– Later splinters (well

trained) – one bit will be the Taliban

The Stinger Missile

Soviets leave Afghanistan• 15 Feb 1989 – Geneva Accords– Sets timetable for withdraw of Soviet troops

from Afghanistan– Ended the 9 year occupation of Afghanistan

American Support Stops