Canada’s Involvement in Canada’s Involvement in Post-WWII WarsPost-WWII Wars
Ch. 6 (p. 138-139, 144-145, 153-155)Ch. 6 (p. 138-139, 144-145, 153-155)
Korean WarKorean War
Korea divided in two after WWIIKorea divided in two after WWII Soviet Union controlled North – communistSoviet Union controlled North – communist
Supported by ChinaSupported by China USA controlled South - democraticUSA controlled South - democratic
1950: North Korea invades South Korea1950: North Korea invades South Korea United Nations condemns invasion, approves UN United Nations condemns invasion, approves UN
military force to help South Koreamilitary force to help South Korea UN force from 15 countries, including Canada, but mostly UN force from 15 countries, including Canada, but mostly
from the USAfrom the USA Minister of External Affairs Lester Pearson tried to Minister of External Affairs Lester Pearson tried to
negotiate a ceasefirenegotiate a ceasefire USA considered using atomic bombUSA considered using atomic bomb
Korean WarKorean War
1953: Stalemate, ceasefire, Korea remained 1953: Stalemate, ceasefire, Korea remained divided in twodivided in two
Increased tensions between Western countries Increased tensions between Western countries and communist countriesand communist countries
First example of “proxy war”First example of “proxy war” War fought indirectly between USA and USSRWar fought indirectly between USA and USSR
Approx. 300 Canadians killed, 1200 injuredApprox. 300 Canadians killed, 1200 injured
Korean WarKorean War
Korean WarKorean War
Korean WarKorean War
Vietnam WarVietnam War
Like Korea, Vietnam divided in twoLike Korea, Vietnam divided in two Communist North, Democratic-ish SouthCommunist North, Democratic-ish South
USA believed that if South became communist, USA believed that if South became communist, then many countries in region would follow – then many countries in region would follow – “domino theory”“domino theory”
1960s: USA sends increasing amount of troops to 1960s: USA sends increasing amount of troops to South to prevent communist takeoverSouth to prevent communist takeover
1965: President Johnson orders bombing of North 1965: President Johnson orders bombing of North Vietnam, keeps sending more troopsVietnam, keeps sending more troops
USSR and China supplying N. Vietnamese armyUSSR and China supplying N. Vietnamese army
Vietnam WarVietnam War
Vietnam WarVietnam War
Vietnam WarVietnam War
Vietnam WarVietnam War
Canada’s ReactionCanada’s Reaction Opinion divided, became increasingly anti-warOpinion divided, became increasingly anti-war
First televised war, images on news weakened supportFirst televised war, images on news weakened support My Lai Massacre – several hundred women, children, elderly killedMy Lai Massacre – several hundred women, children, elderly killed
Anti-war protests/demonstrations across US & CanadaAnti-war protests/demonstrations across US & Canada PM Pearson against Canadian involvementPM Pearson against Canadian involvement
Criticized Vietnam War in speech at US universityCriticized Vietnam War in speech at US university President Johnson furious, let Pearson know itPresident Johnson furious, let Pearson know it
No Canadian troops fought in the Vietnam WarNo Canadian troops fought in the Vietnam War Many American “draft dodgers” fled to CanadaMany American “draft dodgers” fled to Canada
Canadian companies sold equipment to US militaryCanadian companies sold equipment to US military
Vietnam WarVietnam War
Vietnam WarVietnam War
Vietnam WarVietnam War
Vietnam WarVietnam War
US unable to defeat North VietnameseUS unable to defeat North Vietnamese 1969: President Nixon promises to end war1969: President Nixon promises to end war All US troops out of Vietnam by 1973All US troops out of Vietnam by 1973 South Vietnam taken over by North, country South Vietnam taken over by North, country
unified under communist ruleunified under communist rule Many Vietnamese refugees flee country, Many Vietnamese refugees flee country,
thousands immigrate to Canadathousands immigrate to Canada
Vietnam WarVietnam War
First Gulf WarFirst Gulf War
August 1990: Iraq invades Kuwait, declared it August 1990: Iraq invades Kuwait, declared it a province of Iraqa province of Iraq Kuwait invaded because of its oilKuwait invaded because of its oil United Nations tries to convince Iraq, led by United Nations tries to convince Iraq, led by
Saddam Hussein, to leave Kuwait, given deadlineSaddam Hussein, to leave Kuwait, given deadline Resolutions and economic sanctionsResolutions and economic sanctions
Jan. 1991: deadline passes without Iraq withdrawalJan. 1991: deadline passes without Iraq withdrawal UN forces, led by USA, begin Operation Desert StormUN forces, led by USA, begin Operation Desert Storm Canada contributes 4000 troops, military personnelCanada contributes 4000 troops, military personnel First time Canadian women fought in a warFirst time Canadian women fought in a war Iraq troops bombed, pushed back to Iraq by March 1991Iraq troops bombed, pushed back to Iraq by March 1991
Yugoslav Civil WarsYugoslav Civil Wars
1980s: rising ethnic tensions in Yugoslavia1980s: rising ethnic tensions in Yugoslavia 1991: Croatia declares its independence from 1991: Croatia declares its independence from
Yugoslavia, attacked by Yugoslavian armyYugoslavia, attacked by Yugoslavian army War spreads to other areas of country, acts of War spreads to other areas of country, acts of
“ethnic cleansing” committed“ethnic cleansing” committed UN sends in peacekeepersUN sends in peacekeepers
Canadian peacekeepers first to arrive in Bosnia-Canadian peacekeepers first to arrive in Bosnia-Herzegovina (region in Yugoslavia)Herzegovina (region in Yugoslavia)
Unable to keep peace, prevent ethnic cleansingUnable to keep peace, prevent ethnic cleansing
Yugoslav Civil WarYugoslav Civil War
Yugoslav Civil WarsYugoslav Civil Wars
Yugoslav Civil WarsYugoslav Civil Wars
Yugoslav Civil WarsYugoslav Civil Wars
1995: NATO frustrated with ineffectiveness of UN, 1995: NATO frustrated with ineffectiveness of UN, launches air strikes against Yugoslav armylaunches air strikes against Yugoslav army Canada contributes as member of NATOCanada contributes as member of NATO Ceasefire eventually agreed to, US troops join UN Ceasefire eventually agreed to, US troops join UN
peacekeeperspeacekeepers 1998: Yugoslav forces move into Kosovo region to 1998: Yugoslav forces move into Kosovo region to
make sure it didn’t become independentmake sure it didn’t become independent 1999: NATO’s attempts to convince Yugoslav military 1999: NATO’s attempts to convince Yugoslav military
to leave Kosovo fail, begins bombing of Yugoslaviato leave Kosovo fail, begins bombing of Yugoslavia Trying to force Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic to Trying to force Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic to
stop persecuting and killing people of Kosovostop persecuting and killing people of Kosovo
Yugoslav Civil WarsYugoslav Civil Wars
Yugoslav Civil WarsYugoslav Civil Wars
Controversy over Canada’s participation in Controversy over Canada’s participation in NATO bombingsNATO bombings For: NATO job to prevent war spreading, For: NATO job to prevent war spreading,
mistreatment of people of Kosovomistreatment of people of Kosovo Against: NATO should not interfere in another Against: NATO should not interfere in another
country’s affairs, bombing made things worsecountry’s affairs, bombing made things worse What was NATO’s role after the Cold War?What was NATO’s role after the Cold War? What role should Canada play in US-dominated What role should Canada play in US-dominated
organizations after the Cold War?organizations after the Cold War?
Second Gulf WarSecond Gulf War After First Gulf War, UN placed economic After First Gulf War, UN placed economic
sanctions on Saddam Hussein and Iraq, sends sanctions on Saddam Hussein and Iraq, sends inspectors to make sure weapons of mass inspectors to make sure weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) destroyeddestruction (WMDs) destroyed Hussein repeatedly refused to cooperate with UN Hussein repeatedly refused to cooperate with UN
weapons inspectorsweapons inspectors 2002: President Bush pushes for military action 2002: President Bush pushes for military action
against Iraq, believes Hussein developing WMDsagainst Iraq, believes Hussein developing WMDs UN Security Council refuses to authorize military UN Security Council refuses to authorize military
actionaction
Second Gulf WarSecond Gulf War
March 2003: US invades Iraq without UN March 2003: US invades Iraq without UN supportsupport Joined by “Coalition of the Willing”: Britain, Joined by “Coalition of the Willing”: Britain,
Australia, Poland, Denmark, and smaller countriesAustralia, Poland, Denmark, and smaller countries PM Jean Chrétien and most Canadians against PM Jean Chrétien and most Canadians against
attack, supported further inspectionsattack, supported further inspections Canada does not participate in Second Gulf WarCanada does not participate in Second Gulf War
April 2003: Iraq defeated, Saddam Hussein April 2003: Iraq defeated, Saddam Hussein eventually captured and executed, US and eventually captured and executed, US and coalition forces occupy countrycoalition forces occupy country
Second Gulf WarSecond Gulf War
War in AfghanistanWar in Afghanistan
2001: Sept. 11 terrorist attacks by Al-Qaeda, led 2001: Sept. 11 terrorist attacks by Al-Qaeda, led by Osama bin Laden, on United Statesby Osama bin Laden, on United States Leaders of Afghanistan, the Taliban, accused of Leaders of Afghanistan, the Taliban, accused of
protecting Al-Qaedaprotecting Al-Qaeda Afghanistan invaded by US to destroy Taliban and Afghanistan invaded by US to destroy Taliban and
Al-Qaeda, find Osama bin LadenAl-Qaeda, find Osama bin Laden PM Chrétien pledges full Canadian support to USPM Chrétien pledges full Canadian support to US
2002: Taliban no longer in control, Canada 2002: Taliban no longer in control, Canada sends troops to Kandahar region to find Al-sends troops to Kandahar region to find Al-Qaeda and Taliban, help Afghan peopleQaeda and Taliban, help Afghan people
War in AfghanistanWar in Afghanistan
War in AfghanistanWar in Afghanistan
War in AfghanistanWar in Afghanistan
Canadian troops continue to serve in AfghanistanCanadian troops continue to serve in Afghanistan Still very dangerous (133 Canadians killed, 2 in the past month)Still very dangerous (133 Canadians killed, 2 in the past month) Progress is slow, still many insurgents (violent rebels)Progress is slow, still many insurgents (violent rebels) Controversy over possible torture connectionsControversy over possible torture connections
Allegations that Canadian officials handed Afghan detainees (prisoners) Allegations that Canadian officials handed Afghan detainees (prisoners) over to Afghan authorities knowing they would be torturedover to Afghan authorities knowing they would be tortured
Debate in Canada about future participation in Afghanistan Debate in Canada about future participation in Afghanistan continuescontinues
For: rebuilding of Afghanistan not finished, no troops in Afghanistan For: rebuilding of Afghanistan not finished, no troops in Afghanistan would mean more violence and worse conditionswould mean more violence and worse conditions
Against: little progress being made, too many Canadians dying, not Against: little progress being made, too many Canadians dying, not Canada’s responsibilityCanada’s responsibility