UNIT 13

FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND DEFENSE  

• BIPARTISANSHIP - long standing practice in U.S. where both parties support the President and his foreign policy publicly.  Disputes should be private and once policy is decided, we should present a united front to the world. 

• DOMINO THEORY- a theory that when one country falls to the communists, neighboring countries would also be threatened and eventually fall to the communists, like a "row of dominoes" - this coincided with containment.

• IRON CURTAIN - the closed border between communist Eastern Europe and non-communist Western Europe.

• GULF OF TONKIN RESOLUTION - voted by Congress in 1964 authorizing LBJ to take all necessary steps to protect U.S. interests in Vietnam and prevent any further aggression.  This how we fought the Vietnam War without any declaration from Congress B LBJ said he didn't need it.

• WAR POWERS ACT - passed in 1973 to limit the president's powers as commander-in-chief and prevent another undeclared war - check notes from Unit 1 on details.

• MILITARY INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX - the alliance between the Pentagon and Defense Dept. and large American corporations with defense contracts.  Eisenhower first warned of their powerful influence behind the scenes, constantly lobbying for higher defense spending and more weapons systems - because it means more profits for them.  Cost overruns and overcharging the government for weapons and parts are recent charges being investigated.

• U.S. FOREIGN FOREIGN POLICY TODAY                                                                                                                                  Russia: Our former enemy, mutual distrust but less distrust today  than any other time since the 1950s and McCarthy period.  Russian leaders Gorbachev  pursued reforms, economic and political, "Glasnost" (openness).  Yeltsin continued those reforms but the move to a capitalistic economy has caused a drastic drop in the standard of living.  Current President Putin seems less democratically-inclined than Yeltsin was.  Are these changes toward a democracy and capitalism permanent?  This remains to be seen.

• China: formerly another mistrusted foe, now a much friendlier relationship.  Nixon opened up relations with China - one of his big achievements.

• Eastern Europe: no longer -- trend. Democracy & Capitalism under Soviet and communist control and not Russia's backyard.

• Western Europe: the U.S. has pledged to defend it from the Soviet Union, even with nuclear weapons if necessary, but with the collapse of communism and the old Soviet Union, they seem to feel they need the U.S. less. 

• Latin America: we have long considered it our backyard and have used "gun-boat diplomacy"  interfering in their internal affairs - a big brother attitude.

• Africa: usually ignored by the U.S.  We are criticized in black Africa for supporting white-run south Africa and their apartheid policy.  Our economic sanctions eventually forced South Africa to end apartheid.  This is one of the poorest areas of the world and is now being plagued by the AIDS epidemic. 

• Asia: since Vietnam, we are reluctant to get involved, except to defend close allies like Japan, S. Korea, Australia, New Zealand, and the Philippines.

• Middle East: U.S. has always favored Israel over the Arab nations and we are disliked by Arabs for this.  We didn't care until OPEC cutoff of oil to U.S. by Arab nations.  Now we try to be more balanced and fair.  We still support Israel though.  This has forced Arab nations to turn to Soviet Union for help.  We are trying to negotiate a stable peace between Isreal and her Arab neighbors, but continuing violence and terrorism in the region have made this increasingly difficult. 

CURRENT PROBLEMS IN U.S. FOREIGN POLICY

•       President vs. Congress: controversy over who runs foreign policy and the president's increasing domination - Congress left out more and more - not a partner ship as envisioned by our founding fathers.

•       National Security vs. Democratic Ideals: sometimes, to protect our security and secrets, the Constitution, laws, or legal rights have been violated.  Ex: Japanese-American internment during WWII; censorship of news; bugging suspected subversives, etc.

•       Defense Budget vs. Social Programs: "guns vs. butter" debate - the more we spend on defense, the less $ is left for social programs - conservatives usually want to cut social programs and increase defense; liberals usually argue excessive defense spending hurts social programs and the poor, elderly, and all of us because of cut programs.

•      Regional Conflicts and Terrorism-
       Examples include: Yugoslavia/Serbia, Kosovo, Northern Ireland, the Middle-East

•      Danger of Nuclear Proliferation-
       The willingness of China and Russia to sell their nuclear technology to such nations as Iran, Iraq and other nations is troubling.  North Korea's attempts to build nuclear weapons is also troubling.

SALT TREATIES: Salt I signed by Nixon with Russia to reduce spread of certain nuclear weapons.  Salt II negotiated by Carter never approved by U.S. Senate.  Purpose of Salt: to reduce arms race and cut expense of defense.  Reagan has negotiated a new arms control agreement.

M.A.D.: Mutual Assured Destruction: --the theory that our enemies would not dare attack the US with nuclear weapons because we would have enough time after their launch of the missiles to also launch ours and thus, both sides would be wiped out.  This supposedly has kept the world at "peace" and prevented a nuclear war because no side would or could win.

NSC:

CIA:

USIA:

PEACE CORPS:

JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF: