DRILL

• In what ways, and for what reasons, was the Middle East important in the Cold War?

• Bullet at least 5 points

The Cold War – Canada and the Caribbean

Canada

• Canada supported the U.S. in most of their efforts in the Cold War– Was one of the founding members of NATO in 1949– Had a Red Scare – supported U.S. in search– Sent volunteer troops to the Korean War– In 1958, the North American Aerospace Defense Command

(NORAD) is a joint-air defense system between the U.S. and Canada to monitor aircraft and missiles and is the first to alert of a nuclear attack

– Distant Early Warning Line (Dew Line) was a system of radar stations in the far northern Arctic region of Canada set up to detect incoming Soviet bombers

Canada and the Truman/Eisenhower Doctrines

• Canadians were hesitant to adopt the Truman or Eisenhower Doctrines, which held that communism itself must be actively opposed through foreign intervention

• Instead, Canada's policy was that illegal acts of international aggression must be opposed, as in the Korean War

Canada and the Suez Crisis

• The United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF), was suggested by the Canadians

• They would intercede and divide the combatants, and form a buffer zone or 'human shield' between the opposing forces

• They were deployed to the Suez Canal (1956) to separate the combatants and a cease-fire and resolution was drawn up to end the hostilities

Canada and Cuba

• Established relations with Cuba and China, even when the U.S. had cut their relations off

• Canada argued that rather being soft on Communism, it was pursuing a strategy of "constructive engagement" whereby it sought to influence Communism through the course of its international relationships

Canada in the Vietnam War

• Canada remained militarily uninvolved in Vietnam but provided modest diplomatic and economic support to the French in the First Indochina War

• Additionally, at the start of the Vietnam War, Canada was a member of the UN truce commissions overseeing the implementation of the Geneva Agreements, and thus was obliged to stay officially neutral

Canada in the Vietnam War

• The Canadian negotiators were strongly on the side of the Americans, however:

– Some delegates even engaged in espionage on behalf of the Americans, with the approval of the Canadian government.

– Canada also sent foreign aid to South Vietnam, which, while humanitarian, was directed by the Americans

Canada in the Vietnam War

• Canada tried to mediate between the warring countries, aiming for a conclusion that could allow the U.S. to leave the conflict honorably, but also publicly criticized American war methods

• Meanwhile, Canadian industry exported military supplies and raw materials useful in their manufacture, including ammunition, napalm, and Agent Orange, to the United States

Canada in the Vietnam War

• As the war escalated, relations between Canada and the United States deteriorated

• Canada accepted draft dodgers from the U.S. and deserters

• The public and their representatives in parliament became more willing to oppose the United States

Canada in the Cold War

• Debate over whether to accept the BOMARC missile system in Canada, which carried U.S. nuclear warheads. Eventually they accepted the warheads in 1963, but were removed when PM Pierre Trudeau was elected in 1968

• Canada refused to join the Organization of American States (OAS), disliking the support and tolerance of dictators. They were supposed to strengthen peace, security, and democracy on the continent

• Widespread protests against American testing of cruise missiles in Canada’s north

Latin America

• The U.S. concentrated its efforts more on Europe than on Latin America, but two important groups were formed:– Organization of American States (OAS) was created

in 1948 in order to achieve peace, security, and democracy

– Alliance for Progress (1961) aimed to establish economic cooperation between North and South America. Aid was intended to counter the perceived emerging communist threat from Cuba to U.S. interests and dominance in the region

Dominican Republic

• In 1963, a democratically elected leftist was elected president

• He was overthrown later that year and replaced by military rule

• In 1965, a pro-Marxist revolt took place against the current government, so the U.S. intervened to restore order

• New elections installed a ruler who was repressive, mainly due to the fact he was trying to prevent pro-communist parties from taking over

Grenada

• On March 13, 1979 a pro-communist government was established through a revolt

• The government suspended the constitution and began to rule by decree. All other political parties were banned and no elections were ever held

• The government quickly aligned itself with Cuba and began a military build-up

Grenada

• In March 1983, with the help of Cuba and the British, a new runway was being built. President Ronald Reagan called it a “Soviet-Cuban militarization” of the Caribbean

• In October 1983, some government leaders were murdered in a military coup. They started a four-day curfew where anyone found on the streets would be shot

• The U.S. was also concerned about U.S. medical students at St. George’s University being taken hostage

Grenada

• On Oct. 25, in Operation Urgent Fury, the U.S. sent 7,000 troops to invade the island

• They were opposed by 1,500 Grenadian soldiers and 750 Cubans

• Military operations lasted until December, but troops remained thereafter

• The constitution was resumed and a new government was appointed

• The successful invasion was opposed by the British and Canadians