Use the book if you need to reference. « Spies: The Epic Intelligence War Between East and West » by Calder Walton
Chaper 11: Red Heat (p.p. 307-332)
Walton begins by explore the events that followed the Cuban Misille Crisis. Given the confrontation that almost lead to nuclear conflict, it was not all that surprising that an attempt to remove Castro and his communist governmet from power occurred. The possibility of what could have been was so terrifying at the time that the plan to invade was likely an inevitability that was not going to be avioded. But again, keep in mind that the Kennedy administration was trying to operate under this guise of plausible deniability, which required the strategy they ultimately pursued. However, as I have mentioned such a possibility of deniability was not a very likely outcome. Walton ponders an important question.
Did Cuba pose a genuine threat to U.S. national security at the time? William Fullbright,
chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, later said that the Castro regime was
a 'thorn in the flesh, but it is not a dagger in the heart.' (Walton, 2023, p. 309).
The idea of having a communist presence in the Western Hemisphere was too much for America Cold Warriors to accept. The belief was that like elsewhere, one victory meant the likely pissibility fir other "dominoes" to fall, greatly enhancing a Soviet presence in our part of the world.
Chapter 12: Sunny Places, Shady People (p.p. 333-353)
In this chapter, Walton expands his exploration of the spread of Soviet influence and U.S. containment. Keep in mind that all of the "optics" of this process were exclusively viewed through the lens of the Cold War. The world was sectioned off into specific areas of political and military control along with those areas where open competion that could change hands, based upon the specifics of the situation. Covert actions played a very specific role in those areas of the world where one of the Super Powers had recognized interests that they were unwilling to lose to the other side. Examples such as Cuba, Iran, the Conga, Viet Nam, etc, all where examples of this process for varying reasons.
- In 300 words discuss how the competition between America and the Soviet Union fueled this process.
The competition between America and the Soviet Union during the Cold War fueled the process of spreading influence and implementing covert actions in various parts of the world. This intense rivalry between the superpowers created a global power struggle, with each side vying for dominance and seeking to expand its sphere of influence. Here is a discussion of how the competition fueled this process:
Ideological Battle: The competition between America and the Soviet Union was fundamentally an ideological battle between capitalism and communism. Both sides believed in the superiority of their respective systems and sought to promote their ideologies globally. This ideological struggle fueled the desire to spread influence and gain control over regions that were deemed strategically important.
Domino Theory: The domino theory played a significant role in fueling the process. The belief was that if one country in a particular region fell to communism, neighboring countries would follow suit, leading to a domino effect. This fear of communist expansion drove both sides to engage in covert actions and interventions to prevent the spread of communism.
Military and Political Strategic Interests: Both America and the Soviet Union had military and political strategic interests in different parts of the world. These interests were often driven by geopolitical considerations, access to resources, and securing allies. Covert actions were seen as a means to protect or advance these interests, ensuring that their rivals did not gain an upper hand.
Proxy Wars: The competition between America and the Soviet Union manifested in proxy wars, where they supported opposing factions in conflicts around the world. Examples include the Vietnam War, where America supported South Vietnam against the communist North, and Afghanistan, where the Soviet Union backed the communist government against rebel factions. These proxy wars were part of a broader strategy to counter the rival's influence and limit their expansion.
Overall,
the competition between America and the Soviet Union during the Cold War fueled the process of spreading influence and implementing covert actions. The ideological battle, fear of communist expansion, strategic interests, and proxy wars all contributed to this dynamic. The pursuit of power and dominance by each side drove them to engage in covert activities, shaping the course of global politics during this era of intense rivalry.