Foreign Policy and Affairs

a policy governing international relations
Panama,
End of the Cold War and Changing U.S.-Soviet Relations,
Persian Gulf War

Panama

While trying to stop the spread of communism throughout the Cold War, Manuel Noreiga became the director of the CI. Noreiga was from Panama and provided intelligence but Noreiga soon became involved with the international drug trade. The U.S government tried to rid themselves of him but he grew more and more powerful in Panama. In 1983 he became the Panamanian dictator and controlled the country. The Democrats and Congress soon demanded that justice was brought to Panama. On December 20th the U.S military launched “Operation Just Cause”. 10,000 forces were sent to Panama, along with the excisting 13,000 they quickly won the battle. Noriega was sent to prison, charged on drug trafficking. Bush gained respect and boosted his reputation.


End of the Cold War and Changing U.S.-Soviet Relations

A year before his Presidency (1988) Bush met Soviet Premier Mikhail Gorbachev. "great nations of the world are moving toward democracy through the door to freedom." -Bush.
When the Berlin was torn down in november 1989, George Bush was glad but didn't show much emotion. His conservative supporters were upset but he did not want to appear to look down upon the Soviet Union. December 1989 summit, Bush and Gorbachev discussed arms reductions and strengthing their realtions. In July 1991, Bush met Gorbachev in Moscow and signed the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, known as START. Slowly Gorbachev lost power and resigned as the President of the Soviet Union on December 25, 1991. Some people thought Bush was too close to the Soviet Union, but in the end it worked.

German Unification

This was un-expected for the U.S and suprised them even more when the united Germany joined the NATO, North Atlantic Treaty Organization. There were 3 main proposals, 1. Let Germany settle the problem . 2. The victors and the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe and its thirty-five members choose the path to go. 3.involve the two Germanys with the World War II victors in a framework that became known as "Two-plus-Four." 1990 February, option 3 is chosen. The victors will work on what to do on external affairs while the 2 Germanys discuss internal affairs. The talks started in May and ended in September. Germany would be part of NATO but no NATO troops would be stationed in East Germany. Soviet troops would have 3-4 years to leave East Germany and Germany would provide economic assistance to the Soviet Union.