Cold War: Flashpoints

Question 1

What was SALT 2 that occured in 1977?

Answer 1

1. From 1977, talks for a new S.A.L.T (S.A.L.T. II) agreement took place. The aim was to limit every type of rocket and warhead.
2. It was meant to stay in force until 1985, and limited each superpower to 2,400 strategic nuclear weapon systems. The treaty was drawn up in 1979, but the USSR then invaded Afghanistan, so the USA refused to ratify the treaty.
3. Although it was never ratified, both sides pledged to follow its guidelines. However, it did not mention tactical (short-range) weapons or designate how many strategic warheads each side could deploy.

Question 2

What were the causes of the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan (Dec 1979)?

Answer 2

Causes:

1. In April 1978, there was a Communist revolution in which Taraki took control of Afghanistan.
2. Many Muslim leaders across Afghanistan did not like the new socialist reforms introduced by the government so they began a civil war against the Communists in the Spring of 1979.
3. Meanwhile, the Communist government were also fighting amongst themselves; in October 1979 Amin supporters assassinated Taraki and Amin claimed Presidency over Afghanistan.
4. The USSR did not trust Amin – the KGB believed he was a US spy. The USSR had a fear that, if the civil war was won by the Islamic fighters, Afghanistan would reject Communism and encourage nearby countries to do the same.
5. Soviet troops invade Afghanistan, kill Amin and declare Karmal president. (December 1979)
6. America had tolerated Soviet invasions previously (Czechoslovakia 1968) but this time they did not. The USA through the CIA armed the Mujahedeen to fight against the Soviets.

Question 3

What were the consequences of the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan (Dec 1979)?

Answer 3

Consequences:

• Effectively ended détente and worsened relations
• SALT II ratification suspended
• USA stopped exportation of grain to USSR
• USA gave military and economic aid to Mujahedeen rebels fighting Soviet troops
• Boycotting of 1980 Moscow Olympics
• USA began rearmament

Question 4

What was the Carter Doctrine?

Answer 4

In response to Afghanistan invasion Carter was appalled by the Soviet aggression and released a statement that became known as the ‘Carter Doctrine’.

He stated the USA would:

• Not allow the USSR to gain control of the oil-rich Middle East.
• Take a number of immediate steps to try to remove Soviet troops from Afghanistan.

Question 5

What was the Renewed Cold War?

Answer 5

Reagan was elected as the new US president in January 1981. He was elected as he had a tough anti-communist stance; referring to the Soviet Union as ‘that evil empire’. He believed that Carter had been too soft on the Soviets. Reagan had been a hard line anti-communist and believed détente caused USA to lose ground with USSR; called Soviet Union ‘The Evil Empire’.

Question 6

What was THE STRATEGIC DEFENSE INITIATIVE (SDI) AKA ‘Star Wars’?

Answer 6

• In 1983 US scientists began working in the SDI. This project was informally named ‘Star Wars’. The aim was to prevent Soviet nuclear missiles from reaching US targets by creating a huge laser shield in space. If successful, SDI would mean USA wouldn’t be victim of ‘first strike’. It also created a ‘gap’ in the arms race and would mean an end to M.A.D. Clearly this caused increased tension between the Superpowers.
• In 1982 meetings between the USA and USSR resumed under the banner of START (Strategic Arms Reduction Talks). Reagan demanded huge cuts in Soviet nuclear capability. In response, the Soviets pulled out of the talks. Reagan’s statements were very aggressive – this terrified the Soviets into thinking he was preparing the US to fight a war with them.
• USA invaded Grenada to stop Communist government from taking
  control. As a result, the LA Olympics were boycotted by USSR and Communist countries because of Grenada invasion

Question 7

READ OVER:

A quote/s from the ‘Evil Empire’ speech:

Answer 7

“I urge you to beware the temptation of pride - the temptation of blithely declaring yourselves above it all and label both sides equally at fault, to ignore the facts of history and the aggressive impulses of an evil empire, to simply call the arms race a giant misunderstanding and thereby remove yourself from the struggle between right and wrong and good and evil”.

1983 ‘Evil Empire’ Speech