Cold War Strategies

Avoiding Nuclear War

1. Intervention• Containment by military means

2. Détente• Containment by engagement

and management of Soviet behavior

1. Intervention1. Intervention

The Dilemma

How do you contain communist military aggression without

risking a nuclear war?

Korean War 1950-53Korean War 1950-53

• Limited WarLimited War– GoalsGoals

– WeaponsWeapons

– GeographyGeography

– Talk and FightTalk and Fight

Viet Nam (after 1954)Viet Nam (after 1954)

Strategic LogicStrategic Logic

Domino TheoryDomino 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 TrailHo Chi Minh Trail

Containment and Domestic Containment and Domestic PoliticsPolitics

JFKJFK LBJLBJ

The Dilemma of Viet NamThe Dilemma of Viet Nam

• Can’t lose South Viet NamCan’t lose South Viet Nam

• Can’t do what we need to winCan’t do what we need to win– KoreaKorea– WW III?WW III?

• SolutionSolution– Limited WarLimited War– Coercive Diplomacy (Bombing)Coercive Diplomacy (Bombing)

From LBJ to NixonFrom LBJ to Nixon

LBJ says LBJ says Goodbye Nixon’s WarNixon’s War

Shadow of Viet NamShadow of Viet Nam• Limits of US Power and ForceLimits of US Power and Force

• Wisdom of InterventionWisdom of Intervention

• Difficulties of Nation BuildingDifficulties of Nation Building

• NationalismNationalism

• Public OpinionPublic Opinion

Congress challenges PresidentCongress challenges President

• War Powers Resolution 1973 (PL 93-War Powers Resolution 1973 (PL 93-148) 148) (from Federation of American Scientists , see Appendix (from Federation of American Scientists , see Appendix 3)3)

• Clark Amendment Clark Amendment

to Arms Export to Arms Export

Control Act 1976Control Act 1976

End of US Foreign Policy End of US Foreign Policy Consensus?Consensus?

Truman Doctrine: ConsensusTruman Doctrine: Consensus

LL R R

Post-Viet Nam: PolarizationPost-Viet Nam: Polarization

Viet Nam SyndromeViet Nam Syndrome

http://pewresearch.org/pubs/432/iraq-and-vietnam-a-crucial-http://pewresearch.org/pubs/432/iraq-and-vietnam-a-crucial-difference-in-opiniondifference-in-opinion

2. Détente

The Dilemma

How do you contain and compete with the USSR after Korea and Viet Nam

Cuban Missile Crisis 1962Cuban Missile Crisis 1962

Nixon and His Key Foreign Nixon and His Key Foreign Policy AdviserPolicy Adviser

• Nixon and Henry KissingerNixon and Henry Kissinger

Nixon-Kissinger Decision MakingNixon-Kissinger Decision Making

RN-HAK ProcessRN-HAK Process

Nixon

Kissinger

NSC Staff

Why Détente?Why Détente?

• Strategic parityStrategic parity

• Sino-Soviet SplitSino-Soviet Split

• Viet Nam SyndromeViet Nam Syndrome

Strategic Parity

• Stockpiles

Sino-Soviet SplitSino-Soviet SplitUSSRUSSR

NikitaNikita LeonidLeonid

KhrushchevKhrushchev BrezhnevBrezhnev

1956-19641956-1964 1964-19821964-1982

PRC

Mao Zedong

1949-1976

Viet Nam SyndromeViet Nam Syndrome

Nixon recognizes this:Nixon recognizes this:

• Nixon Doctrine Nixon Doctrine – Remarks July 25, 1969 (see Q and A)– Address to the nation, Nov. 3, 1969

DetenteDetente

1.1. Still containmentStill containment

2.2. New Goal: Change USSR New Goal: Change USSR behaviorbehavior

3.3. Old-school Balance of PowerOld-school Balance of Power

1.1. Arms Control PolicyArms Control Policy

Strategic Arms Limitation Talks, May 1972Strategic Arms Limitation Talks, May 1972• Interim Agreement on Offensive Arms• Anti-Ballistic Missile TreatyAnti-Ballistic Missile Treaty

2. Triangular Diplomacy2. Triangular Diplomacy

USUS

USSRUSSR PRCPRC

Kissinger to China, July 1971Kissinger to China, July 1971

Nixon-Mao Summit in China, Nixon-Mao Summit in China, February 1972February 1972

Shanghai CommuniqueShanghai Communique

China and TaiwanChina and Taiwan

Detente SuccessesDetente Successes

• Management of arms raceManagement of arms race

• Management of US-Soviet global Management of US-Soviet global competitioncompetition

• Opening to ChinaOpening to China

• Nixon hailed as a foreign policy geniusNixon hailed as a foreign policy genius

• Kissinger wins Nobel Peace PrizeKissinger wins Nobel Peace Prize

Détente Collapses:Ford and Carter

Carter Human Rights FocusBut…But…

• IranIran

• South KoreaSouth Korea

• ChinaChina

SALT IISALT II

Carter AdvisorsCarter AdvisorsSec State Cyrus VanceSec State Cyrus Vance NS Adv. Zbigniew BrzezinskiNS Adv. Zbigniew Brzezinski

Iranian RevolutionIranian Revolution

Shah of IranShah of Iran

Mohammed Reza PahleviMohammed Reza Pahlevi

Ayatollah Ruhollah Ayatollah Ruhollah KhomeiniKhomeini

November 4, 1979November 4, 1979

December 1979

““Arc of Crisis”Arc of Crisis”

Détente EndsDétente Ends

• Carter Gets ToughCarter Gets Tough

• SALT II DiesSALT II Dies

• Defense BuildupDefense Buildup

• Carter DoctrineCarter Doctrine

• Rescue MissionRescue Mission– Vance resignsVance resigns

Rescue Mission April 1980Rescue Mission April 1980