Cold War Strategies Avoiding Nuclear War 1 Intervention

Cold War Strategies Avoiding Nuclear War 1. Intervention • Containment by military means 2. Détente • Containment by engagement and management of Soviet behavior

1. Intervention The Dilemma How do you contain communist military aggression without risking a nuclear war?

Korean War 1950 -53 • Limited War – Goals – Weapons – Geography – Talk and Fight

Viet Nam (after 1954)

Strategic Logic Domino Theory

N. Vietnamese Strategy • Classic Guerrilla Warfare – Mao Zedong – “a guerrilla wins by not losing” • Insurgency • Backed by USSR – “Wars of National Liberation”

Ho Chi Minh Trail

Containment and Domestic Politics JFK LBJ

The Dilemma of Viet Nam • Can’t lose South Viet Nam • Can’t do what we need to win – Korea – WW III? • Solution – Limited War – Coercive Diplomacy (Bombing)

From LBJ to Nixon LBJ says Goodbye Nixon’s War

Shadow of Viet Nam • • • Limits of US Power and Force Wisdom of Intervention Difficulties of Nation Building Nationalism Public Opinion

Congress challenges President • War Powers Resolution 1973 (PL 93148) (from Federation of American Scientists , see Appendix 3) • Clark Amendment to Arms Export Control Act 1976

End of US Foreign Policy Consensus? Truman Doctrine: Consensus L Post-Viet Nam: Polarization R

Viet Nam Syndrome http: //pewresearch. org/pubs/432/iraq-and-vietnam-a-crucialdifference-in-opinion

2. Détente The Dilemma How do you contain and compete with the USSR after Korea and Viet Nam

Cuban Missile Crisis 1962

Nixon and His Key Foreign Policy Adviser • Nixon and Henry Kissinger

Nixon-Kissinger Decision Making RN-HAK Process Nixon Kissinger NSC Staff

Why Détente? • Strategic parity • Sino-Soviet Split • Viet Nam Syndrome

Strategic Parity • Stockpiles

Sino-Soviet Split USSR Nikita Leonid Khrushchev Brezhnev 1956 -1964 -1982 PRC Mao Zedong 1949 -1976

Viet Nam Syndrome Nixon recognizes this: • Nixon Doctrine – Remarks July 25, 1969 (see Q and A) – Address to the nation, Nov. 3, 1969

Detente 1. Still containment 2. New Goal: Change USSR behavior 3. Old-school Balance of Power

1. Arms Control Policy Strategic Arms Limitation Talks, May 1972 • Interim Agreement on Offensive Arms • Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty

2. Triangular Diplomacy US USSR PRC

Kissinger to China, July 1971

Nixon-Mao Summit in China, February 1972 Shanghai Communique

China and Taiwan

Detente Successes • Management of arms race • Management of US-Soviet global competition • Opening to China • Nixon hailed as a foreign policy genius • Kissinger wins Nobel Peace Prize

Détente Collapses: Ford and Carter

Carter Human Rights Focus But… • Iran • South Korea • China

SALT II

Carter Advisors Sec State Cyrus Vance NS Adv. Zbigniew Brzezinski

Iranian Revolution Shah of Iran Mohammed Reza Pahlevi Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini

November 4, 1979

December 1979

“Arc of Crisis”

Détente Ends • • • Carter Gets Tough SALT II Dies Defense Buildup Carter Doctrine Rescue Mission – Vance resigns

Rescue Mission April 1980