Tag Archive for ‘Cold War’
Don’t Know Much About® the Bay of Pigs
In the long catalog of America’s recent foreign policy fiascoes, the Bay of Pigs Invasion occupies a lofty position among the worst debacles. The 50th anniversary of the failed CIA-sponsored invasion of Cuba begun on April 17, 1961 is now being quietly marked. In Cuba, it is still a cause for celebration. During the past [...]
Don’t Know Much About® the “Marshall Plan”
On April 3, 1948, President Truman signed into law the Foreign Assistance Act of 1948, otherwise known as The Marshall Plan, widely considered the most important foreign policy success of the postwar period. In the current climate of the GOP’s “Just Say No” deficit-cutting stance and widespread opposition to foreign aid of any kind, would [...]
TODAY IN HISTORY: 60 Years Later- Don’t Know Much About® the Korean War
It used to be called the “Forgotten War.” But it is no longer forgotten, as recent headlines continue to prove. And it never really ended. With the sinking of a South Korean navy submarine in March, tensions between the two countries were once again ratcheted higher. And the firing of Gen. MacChrystal by President Obama [...]
TODAY IN HISTORY: A Real October Scare– The Missile Crisis
For Americans alive in 1962, it was much more scary than any Halloween. For nearly two weeks in October, the world came as close to World War III or an all-out nuclear war as it has ever been. On October 22, 1962, President John F. Kennedy announced an air and naval blockade of Cuba, following [...]
Today in History: The Gulf Of Tonkin Resolution
When Administrations Lie, Thousands Die. That is today’s history lesson on the 45th anniversary of passage of the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution by Congress on August 7, 1964. Since the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution and Vietnam War might as well be the Punic Wars to some people, here is a quick refresher. America was already [...]
JFK in Berlin
It was one of the most famous sentences spoken during the Cold War. “Ich bin ein Berliner.” (“I am a Berliner.”) John F. Kennedy spoke those words on June 26, 1963, to an enormous crowd in a Berlin divided by the Cold War. Here is a link to the New York Times account of the [...]
Don’t Know Much About the “McCarthy Hearings”
On June 9, 1954, In one of the most famous moments in Cold War history, Joseph N. Welch, an attorney representing the US Army, confronted Senator Joseph McCarthy during a televised hearing, with the memorable question: Have you no sense of decency, sir? At long last, have you left no sense of decency?” The dramatic [...]
Don’t Know Much About the Korean War
North Korea preoccupies the headlines as two American journalists are sentenced to hard labor for “illegal entry”, and the US considers blocking shipments into North Korea. One of the thorniest of foreign policy problems facing the US, the conflict with North Korea began during the Cold War, with fighting that began in June 1950 and [...]
