U.S. Foreign Policy Survey
Monday, January 29th, 2007So here’s a short survey on American interventions, of any sort. Now the definition of a political intervention could vary quite substantially, but here it ranges from invasions, bombings and military aid to political interventions and sanctions. I’ve tried to make sure each fact is correct, but don’t take each one at face value; there may also be far reaching positive consequences for each “presumed negative” intervention that only an in-depth analysis could illuminate. So again, read deeper into each intervention to fully understand why, how, when, where, who and what for many of these “claims” are just that.
1940’s
The Financing of Manuel Roxas
The U.S. finances Roxas’ presidential campaign which subsequently gets him elected president of the Philippines. The reasons for this are not clear but many say the U.S. wanted military bases installed on the islands. The severity of Roxas reign is, again, muddy.
U.S. interference in France’s 1947 elections.
The money from the Marshall Plan is diverted to the Socialist Party to deny a Communist victory. The Communists were one of the groups that composed the French Resistance and protected the country from Nazi German invasion. America threatens to cut off funds if the country doesn’t dismiss it’s Communist ministers.
U.S. interference in Italy’s 1948 elections.
Almost for the same reasons as above, the U.S. interferes in Italy’s 1948 free elections between the Christian Democrats (DC), Italian Socialist Party (PSI), and the Italian Communist Party (PCI). The PCI and PSI eventually joined together (Popular Democratic Front or FDP) to run against the DC but lost when the U.S. interfered. The extent of U.S. interference is “the publishing of books and articles, all of which warned the Italians of what the US felt would be the consequences of a communist victory. The CIA, of which this was the first large scale operation, also funded the centre-right political parties and was accused of publishing forged letters in order to discredit the leaders of the PCI.”
The Greek Civil War Intervention
The U.S. takes and backs the side of the conservative Greek government (as did the British) against mainly Greek communist rebels. The U.S. also “supposedly” wanted military bases in the country.
Anastasio and the Somoza Dynasty, 1948
The U.S. under FDR supports and arms Somoza during his tenure as ruthless dictator. The main consensus is that Somoza and his subsequent family of rulers were anti-communists and a source of stability in the region. Access to plantations is another reason thrown around for the support of Somoza.
Chinese Civil War of 1948
China is effectively split between mainland China and the island of Taiwan in much the same way as Korea. The Soviet Union backs mainland communist China while America backs the Nationalists and recognizes the fled government in Taiwan over the mainland, communist run government. And under U.S. pressure, Taiwan gets a single seat in the United Nations representing China as a whole, while mainland, USSR backed China, with 1/5 of the world’s population, does not. They’re not allowed to join the UN until 1971.
1950s
Puerto Rico, 1950
The U.S. puts down an independence movement on the island. This claim is again very foggy as many believe that the U.S. has voluntarily left independence up to the inhabitants of the commonwealth.
Philippines, 1953
The National Movement for Free Elections is set up to influence Filipino political life. An essence, it’s a lobbying group.
End of France-Vietnam Era, 1954
The French are defeated by the Vietnamese and forced out while the U.S. takes over France’s role. France/ U.S. and USSR/ China decide officially to partition Vietnam into two parts (like Korea) despite public Vietnamese opinion. A referendum is called for in 1956 to decide the future of the country but the U.S. rejects this knowing that 80% of the south want to be unified with the communist north.
Suez Crisis, 1956
As most know, the Suez Crisis was a battle over the canal between American allies great Britain, Israel and France against Egypt. Popular notion is that the U.S. forced a peace treaty on its allies after the USSR threaten to interfere and make it a larger conflict. As far as the U.S. actually taking part in the battle, whether directly or indirectly, I don’t know if this really occurred.
Jordan, 1957
King Hussein becomes king after his grandfather is killed. The U.S. and U.K. are said to have trained his army and supported is royal dictatorship and undemocratic country in return for a pro-U.S. government.
Lebanon, 1958
Operation Blue Bat was the name given to the 1958 operation in which the U.S. helped peacefully put down anti-U.S. dissention. Because of the Suez Crisis, much of the Arab population was upset over President Chamoun’s support of the West during the crisis. The operation was a success as tensions soon faded and a total of only four soldiers died.
Japan, 1958
The CIA begins a 20 year campaign of financing the Liberal Democratic Party, undermining the Japanese Socialist Party, supposedly.
Haiti, 1959
It is claimed by some that the dictatorship of Francois Duvalier was supported by the U.S.A. in the form of militarily training and funding. It’s also been mentioned that the Duvalier reign was opposed by the Kennedy administration in the U.S.
Nepal, 1958
It is said by former CIA operative Duane Clarridge that the U.S. carried out “covert operation” during Nepal’s first democratic election resulting in the leadership of B.P. Koirala
1960s
Belgium and Congo, 1960
Deposed popular leader of Congo Patrice Lumumba is captured and eventually assassinated by Congo’s new pro-West leader under the guidance of the CIA and officially sponsored by Dwight Eisenhower. His body is eventually exhumed and dissolved in sulfuric acid. He was “supposedly” too close to the USSR and a communist sympathizer.
Cuba, 1960
This is the beginning of a long line of altercations and interventions with Cuba. A trade embargo is put on Cuba and the U.S. tries to get its other allies to do the same.
Iraq, 1960
Abd al-Karim Qasim, who helps find OPEC which challenges western oil companies, is the leader of Iraq. The U.S. attempts to assassinate him while at the same time destabilizing his regime by funding the minority Kurdish population.
Cuba and The Bay of Pigs, 1961
I think almost everyone knows of this incident and the humiliation it caused for the U.S. and President Kennedy.
Dominican Republic, 1961
Though an extreme dictator, Rafael Leonidas Trujillo is originally supported by the CIA. When his business interests began to compete with the U.S.’ he was assassinated by his own people with weapons supplied by the CIA.
Vietnam, 1962
Becoming more active in the Vietnam War, chemical defoliants are used by the U.S. in the jungle which contain Dioxin. This, as most have heard, can cause (and has in many cases) mutations, cancer and deformation.
Cuba, 1962
A series of incidents occur again including an assassination attempt on Castro, the infection and death of 8,000 turkeys, the contamination of 80,000 bags of sugar, and the death of 400 civilians in a CIA backed destruction of an industrial building.
1962, Brasil
The CIA and Agency for International Development spend millions of dollars in an unsuccessful attempt to oppose the election of Joao Goulart.
1963, Iraq
The leader of Iraq, Abd al-Karim Qasim (see above) is overthrown in a coup and summarily executed. The CIA gives the new regime, the Ba’ath Party, the names of around 5,000 communists who are eventually killed. Saddam Hussein, who would eventually take charge of the party, is involved in torture of opponents. Forty years later his regime would be removed by the USA (with the UK).
El Salvador, 1963
The U.S. helps set up the Organizacion Democratica Nacionalista which is the country’s first paramilitary death squad. This continues for the next 30 years.
South Vietnam, 1964
Operation Phoenix is set up by the CIA. It is used to torture various enemies via a multitude of methods.
Panama, 1964
Supporters in demonstrations calling for the return of the Panama Canal are put down by the U.S.
Vietnam War, 1965
The U.S. commits 125,000 troops to Vietnam and full war begins. Former CIA agent Ralph McGehee later admits that communist weapons running, which was the excuse for the troops being deployed, was faked by the CIA.
Dominican Republic, 1965
The U.S. sends 23,000 troops to the island to make sure the country’s first democratically elected president does not return to power. Lyndon Johnson justified the invasion by claiming that his PRD party was filled with communists.
Indonesian Coup of 1965
400,000 “communists” are massacred in Indonesia and around 250,000 are sent to prison camps. The killings are aided by the U.S. and the U.K. with U.K ambassador Andrew Gilcrest saying, “”a little shooting in Indonesia would be an essential preliminary to effective change.”
Laos, 1965
As part of the Vietnam War, Laos is dragged into the war by the U.S. in its effort to purify the region of communism. Between 1965 and 1973 the USA would drop more than 2 million tons of bombs on the country killing hundreds of thousands of people.
Central Africa, 1966
Leader and brutal dictator Jean-Bedel Bokassa comes to power in a coup. His regime is reportedly supported by the French, who want access to huge uranium deposits while the U.S. and South Africa loan money to his regime.
Bolivia, 1966
President Rene Barrientos receives a $600,000 gift for his campaign from the CIA and $200,000 from American company Gulf Oil.
Vietnam, 1968
The world-renowned massacre of My Lai occurs.
Cambodia, 1969
Operation Menu is carried out in an effort to further destabilize the Viet-Cong.
1970s
1970, Vietnam
The U.S. army begins and continues to use Agent Orange, CS gas, cyanide, arsenic and napalm which in turn harms more innocent victims than North Vietnamese.
1970, Uruguay
Former Chief of Police Intelligence of Uruguay Alejandro Otero admits that the U.S. trained Uruguayan police officers to torture political prisoners in the 1960s. I bet Dan Mitrione had something to do with this.
Vietnam, 1971
The U.S.’ Ninth Infantry Division carries out Operation Speedy Express which American officials later admit killed 5,000 non-combatants.
Vietnam, 1972
The cities of Hanoi and Haiphong in Vietnam are bombed as part of the Vietnam War. These are some of the heaviest bombings carried out against civilian targets.
Australia, 1972
The CIA tries, unsuccessfully, to block the election of Prime Minister Gough Whitlam with millions of dollars.
Iraq, 1972
The U.S. sends $16 million worth of military aid to Kurdish rebels to disrupt Iraq and please its ally Iran.
Cambodia, 1973
The army again bombs the peaceful peasant society of Cambodia for 160 consecutive days hitting rice fields, water buffalo and villages. 600,000 die and more than 2,000,000 become refugees.
Vietnam, 1974
A trade embargo is put on Vietnam that lasts until 1994.
Zaire, 1974
For years from Nixon to Bush Sr. the U.S. supports and sends aid to Zaire leader Mobutu Sese Seko. In 74’ the U.S. sends $1,400,000 in aid to Zaire which is caught in a civil war. Sese Seko, who has 95% of his country living in poverty, keeps all of it.
1975, Vietnam
After the war is over, Nixon signs a peace treaty with leader Pham Van Dong and agrees to pay 3,250 million in war reparations. Not a penny is paid and instead a blockade is set up against the country and the U.S. freezes their assets.
Western Sahara, 1975
Morocco invades Western Sahara, which has no historical claim to the territory. The U.S., in return for emergency bases for planes, backs Morocco financially and diplomatically in the annexation of Western Sahara.
Indonesia, 1976
The U.S. continues to financially support Indonesia’s brutal raping of East Timor by increasing military aid to $146,000,000 while western media, especially in America, literally ignores the invasion.
Philippines, 1976
The U.S. continues its support of President Ferdinand Marcos with an $88,000,000 loan from the World Bank. Marcos has a horrible human rights record according to Amnesty International.
Zaire, 1977
The U.S continues its support of Zaire’s dictator Mobutu Sese Seko by sending extensive military aid. This is again repeated in 1978.
Indonesia, 1978
The U.S. and U.K. continue to send aid to Indonesia in its attempt to capture recently freed East Timor. This time, as Indonesian military supply is running low, the U.S. authorizes $112,000,000 in military aid to the country.
Guatemala, 1978
General Lucas Garcia, Guatemala’s brutal and violent dictator, continues to have his military financed by the U.S. although this claim is a bit foggy.
Iran, 1979
The Shah of Iran is overthrown by the Supreme Leader Ruhollah Khomeini and the Shah takes cover in the U.S. Iranians, demanding the return of the Shah, take the U.S. embassy hostage.
