Foreign Affairs: By Zac Ross
People generally considered Reagan’s foreign policy much more effective and successful than his domestic policy. During his time as president, Reagan greatly increased the defense forces, spending nearly $1.6 trillion over 5 years.
One program Reagan tried to implement was the Strategic Defense Initiative commonly known as SDI,, but it never really took off. The purpose was to use ground based and space based systems to destroy any ballistic nuclear missiles from hitting the U.S. One way proposed to destroy the nuclear warheads was to use a giant X-ray laser. It would be powered by a nuclear warhead which would then power multiple lasers that could shoot down multiple missiles simultaneously. Another idea was Brilliant Pebbles. This was where non-nuclear satellites would shoot watermelon sized tungsten projectiles at the warhead to disarm it. Although Brilliant Pebbles was regarded as the most probable and capable of the SDI systems, it was cancelled in 1994.
The Invasion of Grenada also was a big part of Reagan’s foreign affairs. It started when a military coup took place and drove out the revolutionary government and restored their constitutional government. It was widely supported in the U.S., and lasted for less than 2 months. October 25, the day the invasion started, is now a national holiday in Grenada, which goes by Thanksgiving Day. St. George’s University built a monument to commemorate the U.S. servicemen killed.
Reagan and his administration also took part in the Iran-Contra affair. The purpose was to try and free 7 hostages in Lebanon by a group with Iranian ties. The plan was that Israel would ship weapons to Iran and would be repaid by the U.S. Then the Iranians would do whatever possible to free the hostages. The U.S. also sent weapons to Iran. The issue was the the U.S. has an embargo with Iran. The Reagan administration also used those weapons to fund the Nicaraguan Contras, even though Congress prohibited it. Reagan was never charged as no evidence was found that he knew about the extent of the programs.
As Reagan was very anti-communist, he was very active in trying to get the Berlin Wall destroyed. On June 12, 1987, Reagan flew to West Berlin to give a speech challenging Mikhail Gorbachev to tear down the wall. It took place at the Brandenburg Gate. The most famous words in his speech and sometimes considered the most famous words Reagan ever said were “Tear down this wall!” It was not covered by the media that much, and Soviets considered it a “war-mongering speech”. On November 9, 1989, East Germany finally opened the Berlin wall, with it being completely destroyed in 1990. Germany was reunified on October 3, 1990.
Reagan's Berlin Wall Speech:http://www.historyplace.com/speeches/reagan-tear-down.htm
One program Reagan tried to implement was the Strategic Defense Initiative commonly known as SDI,, but it never really took off. The purpose was to use ground based and space based systems to destroy any ballistic nuclear missiles from hitting the U.S. One way proposed to destroy the nuclear warheads was to use a giant X-ray laser. It would be powered by a nuclear warhead which would then power multiple lasers that could shoot down multiple missiles simultaneously. Another idea was Brilliant Pebbles. This was where non-nuclear satellites would shoot watermelon sized tungsten projectiles at the warhead to disarm it. Although Brilliant Pebbles was regarded as the most probable and capable of the SDI systems, it was cancelled in 1994.
The Invasion of Grenada also was a big part of Reagan’s foreign affairs. It started when a military coup took place and drove out the revolutionary government and restored their constitutional government. It was widely supported in the U.S., and lasted for less than 2 months. October 25, the day the invasion started, is now a national holiday in Grenada, which goes by Thanksgiving Day. St. George’s University built a monument to commemorate the U.S. servicemen killed.
Reagan and his administration also took part in the Iran-Contra affair. The purpose was to try and free 7 hostages in Lebanon by a group with Iranian ties. The plan was that Israel would ship weapons to Iran and would be repaid by the U.S. Then the Iranians would do whatever possible to free the hostages. The U.S. also sent weapons to Iran. The issue was the the U.S. has an embargo with Iran. The Reagan administration also used those weapons to fund the Nicaraguan Contras, even though Congress prohibited it. Reagan was never charged as no evidence was found that he knew about the extent of the programs.
As Reagan was very anti-communist, he was very active in trying to get the Berlin Wall destroyed. On June 12, 1987, Reagan flew to West Berlin to give a speech challenging Mikhail Gorbachev to tear down the wall. It took place at the Brandenburg Gate. The most famous words in his speech and sometimes considered the most famous words Reagan ever said were “Tear down this wall!” It was not covered by the media that much, and Soviets considered it a “war-mongering speech”. On November 9, 1989, East Germany finally opened the Berlin wall, with it being completely destroyed in 1990. Germany was reunified on October 3, 1990.
Reagan's Berlin Wall Speech:http://www.historyplace.com/speeches/reagan-tear-down.htm