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Distrust Grows in the 1980's (Ronald Regan (Elected President in 1981,…
Distrust Grows in the 1980's
Afghanistan
1979 - pro-communist regime in Afghanistan under threat from the Mujahedeen
25 December 1979 - Soviet Union sends forces into Afghanistan to protect the pro-Soviet regime
President Carter describes this actions as "the most serious threat to peace since the Second World War."
USA secretly begins sending, money, arms and equipment to the Mujahadeen via Pakistan
Campaign virtually unwinnable for the USSR, but they remain until the 1990s
Collapse of Salt II
SALT II, further limiting nuclear arms was finally signed in June 1979
as tensions grew, the US Congress refused to ratify it and thus it was not legally binding
Nuclear Weapons
1977 - USSR replaced old missiles in Eastern Europe with new ones
The west saw these as nuclear weapons that could be used in a nuclear war confined to Europe
President Carter responded allowing the US military to develop cruise missiles
1979 - USA stationed missiles in western Europe
Ronald Regan
Elected President in 1981
Openly anti-communist and anti-USSR
Supported anti-communist forces in Afghanistan and Ncaragua
Many Europeans supported his tough Anti-Soviet stance
Increased spending on defence by US$32.6 Billion
1982 - gave OK for the Defence Initiative ( aka "Star Wars"
Olympic Games
USA boycott the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow
USSR and eastern Europe teams boycott the Los Angeles games in 1984
Human Rights
President Carter criticised the USSR's handling of dissidents (people who speak out against government)
The dissidents in the USSR faced the choice of exile, mental hospital, or the labour camp
Revolution of Iran
Shah of Iran overthrown in 1979
USA had supported the Shah because it needed oil from Iran
New Iranian government very anti-communist and anti-American
Iranian revolution changed the balance of power in the Middle East and tensions increased between the USA and USSR