Changes

=== Vietnam ===

=== Vietnam ===

Americans feared a “domino effect” of communism for good reason.  Imagine a row of dominoes, what happens when one falls into another, and then into another, and so on.  Each falling domino can knock over the one next to it.  Americans starting with President Dwight Eisenhower feared that effect when communism took over a nation:  '''all nearby nations could be the next to fall to that same communism'''.

Americans feared a “domino effect” of communism for good reason.  Imagine a row of dominoes, and what happens when one falls into another, then into another, and so on.  Each falling domino can knock over the one next to it.  Americans starting with President Dwight Eisenhower feared that effect when communism took over a nation:  '''all nearby nations could be the next to fall to that same communism'''.

Southeast Asia has a large population, and after World War II the region was vulnerable to a spread of communism from the Soviet Union and China.  An independence movement beginning in the 1930s caused the French to leave, and Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh was a nationalist leader who received aid from the communists.  The French imposed a death sentence on Ho Chi Minh; however, he fled to avoid this punishment.  When he returned in 1941, he founded “Vietminh”, with the name reflecting that he intended to rule as a dictator.  Japan interrupted his plan by taking control of the region during World War II, but in 1945 the Vietminh defeated the Japanese.  That demonstrated how tough the Vietnamese fighters were, as not even China could beat the Japanese.  Ho Chi Minh then declared the independence of a new Democratic Republic of Vietnam, a huge communist country that has 84 million people today.

Southeast Asia has a large population, and after World War II the region was vulnerable to a spread of communism from the Soviet Union and China.  An independence movement beginning in the 1930s caused the French to leave, and Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh was a nationalist leader who received aid from the communists.  The French imposed a death sentence on Ho Chi Minh; however, he fled to avoid this punishment.  When he returned in 1941, he founded “Vietminh”, with the name reflecting that he intended to rule as a dictator.  Japan interrupted his plan by taking control of the region during World War II, but in 1945 the Vietminh defeated the Japanese.  That demonstrated how tough the Vietnamese fighters were, because the Japanese were invincible against China and many other opponents.  Ho Chi Minh then declared the independence of a new Democratic Republic of Vietnam, a huge communist country that has 84 million people today.

The French tried unsuccessfully to regain control of Vietnam after World War II.  In 1954, the communist Vietnamese nationalists defeated the French at Dien Bien Phu and the French surrendered to Ho Chi Minh.  The French then agreed to divide Vietnam at the 17th parallel,<ref>The term “parallel” in terms of geography means the same as “degrees of latitude.”</ref> as part of the Geneva Conference.  North Vietnam would be communist under Ho Chi Minh, while South Vietnam would be free under Ngo Dinh Diem.

The French tried unsuccessfully to regain control of Vietnam after World War II.  In 1954, the communist Vietnamese nationalists defeated the French at Dien Bien Phu and the French surrendered to Ho Chi Minh.  The French then agreed to divide Vietnam at the 17th parallel,<ref>The term “parallel” in terms of geography means the same as “degrees of latitude.”</ref> as part of the Geneva Conference.  North Vietnam would be communist under Ho Chi Minh, while South Vietnam would be free under Ngo Dinh Diem.

Ho Chi Minh was popular in both North and South Vietnam, and gave away land to people to boost his popularity.  Ngo Dinh Diem was unpopular, and the United States feared that an election in the South might choose Ho Chi Minh’s communists.  So elections were postponed, but the conditions worsened.  The Vietcong, who were communist guerrillas in the South, formed and began causing problems in the early 1960s.  In 1963, South Vietnamese generals who had received support from the United States took over South Vietnam, and assassinated Ngo Dinh Diem.

Ho Chi Minh was popular in both North and South Vietnam, and gave away land to the people in order to boost his popularity.  Ngo Dinh Diem was unpopular, and the United States feared that an election in the South might choose Ho Chi Minh’s communists.  So elections were postponed, but the conditions worsened.  The Vietcong, who were communist guerrillas in the South, formed and began causing problems in the early 1960s.  In 1963, South Vietnamese generals who had received support from the United States took over South Vietnam, and the generals shockingly assassinated Ngo Dinh Diem.

The United States began sending military advisers and weapons to prevent a takeover of the South by the Vietcong.  In August 1964, when President Lyndon Johnson faced reelection, there were mysterious gunshots fired at an American ship in the Gulf of Tonkin near North Vietnam.  It was later disputed whether this was an actual attack on Americans.  Johnson, wanting a war to boost his popularity and reelection chances, pushed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution through Congress to authorize sending troops.  A formal declaration of war never occurred, but this Resolution served as a substitute.  Within a year, thousands of American 19-year-olds were sent to fight the communists in Vietnam.

The United States began sending military advisers and weapons to prevent a takeover of the South by the Vietcong.  In August 1964, when President Lyndon Johnson faced reelection, there were mysterious gunshots fired at an American ship in the Gulf of Tonkin near North Vietnam.  It was later disputed whether this was an actual attack on Americans.  Johnson, wanting a war to boost his popularity and reelection chances, pushed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution through Congress to authorize sending troops.  A formal declaration of war never occurred, but this Resolution served as a substitute.  Within a year, thousands of American 19-year-olds were sent to fight the communists in Vietnam.

The Soviet Union, China and North Vietnam responded by sending their own troops and weapons to help the Vietcong.  The United States bombed North Vietnam, and also bombed targets in South Vietnam to target Vietcong hideouts.  But the Vietcong were hard to find, and knew the jungle much better than the Americans did.  The Vietcong planted land mines throughout the country, causing thousands of American soldiers to die or lose their limbs simply by taking a wrong step.

The Soviet Union, China and North Vietnam responded by sending their own troops and weapons to help the Vietcong.  The United States bombed North Vietnam, and also bombed targets in South Vietnam to hit Vietcong hideouts.  But the Vietcong were hard to find, and knew the jungle much better than the Americans did.  The Vietcong planted land mines throughout the country, causing thousands of American soldiers to die or lose their limbs merely by taking a tragically wrong step.

The conflict in Vietnam helped President Johnson win reelection in 1964, but by 1968 Americans (particularly Democrats in Johnson's own political party) had tired of the tens of thousands of American deaths.  President Johnson did embarrassingly poorly in the first presidential primary (New Hampsire), and had to withdraw from the race for reelection.  As with many wars, including the war in Iraq from 2003 to the present, public support for the war starts very high but tends to decline over time.   

The conflict in Vietnam helped President Johnson win reelection in 1964, but by 1968 Americans (particularly Democrats in Johnson's own political party) had tired of the tens of thousands of American deaths.  President Johnson did embarrassingly poorly in the first presidential primary (New Hampsire), and had to withdraw from the race for reelection.  As with many wars, including the war in Iraq from 2003 to the present, public support for the war starts very high but tends to decline over time.   

When President Nixon arrived at the White House after the 1968 elections, he embraced “Vietnamization” as a policy for slowly withdrawing American troops from South Vietnam, hoping that the South Vietnamese would do more themselves in fighting communism.  Nixon also increased bombing of North Vietnam and Vietcong strongholds in Cambodia and Laos.

When President Nixon arrived at the White House after the 1968 elections, he embraced “Vietnamization” as a policy for slowly withdrawing American troops from South Vietnam, hoping that the South Vietnamese would do more themselves in fighting communism.  Nixon also increased bombing of North Vietnam and Vietcong strongholds in Cambodia and Laos.

Nixon was heavily influenced by his adviser Henry Kissinger.  Kissinger’s approach towards Vietnam was to launch bombing attacks and then look like a hero in declaring cease-fires.  He did this repeatedly and received much praise by newspapers for it.  But the communists would simply re-supply their guerrilla fighters during the cease-fires, and so the cease-fires actually helped the communists continue the war.  By 1973, the United States gave up and pulled the last American soldiers out.  A million Vietnamese then fled South Vietnam to escape the communists, who took over by 1975.  The United States imposed a trade embargo on the newly unified Vietnam that lasted until 1994.  President Bush visited Vietnam in 2006.

Nixon was heavily influenced by his adviser Henry Kissinger.  Kissinger’s approach towards Vietnam was to launch bombing attacks and then look like a hero in declaring cease-fires.  He did this repeatedly and received much praise by newspapers for it.  But the communists would simply re-supply their guerrilla fighters during the cease-fires, and so the cease-fires actually helped the communists continue the war. (A "guerrilla" is someone who fights aggressively in an unorganized, irregular manner based on surprise, deception and sabotage.) By 1973, the United States gave up and pulled the last American soldiers out.  A million Vietnamese then fled South Vietnam to escape the communists, who took over by 1975.  The United States imposed a trade embargo on the newly unified Vietnam that lasted until 1994.  President Bush visited Vietnam in 2006.

Things worsened further in next-door Cambodia after the Americans left Vietnam.  Pol Pot took over Cambodia in 1975, and he abolished private property, money and religion, and converted everything back to an agricultural society.  He emptied the cities.  His ruthless policies possibly resulted in the death of 1-2 million Cambodians in the late 1970s.  The Hollywood movie about his dictatorship, ''The Killing Fields'', exposed his atrocities and perhaps exaggerated them as a way of blaming the United States, which once supported Pol Pot as a counterweight to Vietnam.  Pol Pot’s Khmer Rouge government fell in 1979 when Vietnam invaded Cambodia after a series of violent border confrontations, and Pol Pot fled to the northern jungle with his forces.  He died from illness in 1998.  Today there are United Nations peacekeeping forces in Cambodia.

Things worsened further in next-door Cambodia after the Americans left Vietnam.  Pol Pot took over Cambodia in 1975, and he abolished private property, money and religion, and converted everything back to an agricultural society.  He emptied the cities.  His ruthless policies possibly resulted in the death of 1-2 million Cambodians in the late 1970s.  The Hollywood movie about his dictatorship, ''The Killing Fields'', exposed his atrocities and perhaps exaggerated them as a way of blaming the United States, which once supported Pol Pot as a counterweight to Vietnam.  Pol Pot’s Khmer Rouge government fell in 1979 when Vietnam invaded Cambodia after a series of violent border confrontations, and Pol Pot fled to the northern jungle with his forces.  He died from illness in 1998.  Today there are United Nations peacekeeping forces in Cambodia.

In connection with the “Third World”<ref>Today the term “developing world” is preferred by some to the term of “Third World.”  Traditionally, the “First World” was the highly industrialized capitalistic societies of Europe, Japan, and the United States, and the “Second World” was the less developed nations under communism.</ref> of Latin America, Africa, and many parts of Asia, the Cold War became a battle for influence over the system of government adopted by any and every small country.  It seemed like there were only two choices:  communist or free (capitalist).  Both the United States and Soviet Union would compete with each other to provide to developing nations aid, military advisers, social workers (e.g., the Peace Corps from the United States), educational programs and technology.

In connection with the “Third World”<ref>Today the term “developing world” is preferred by some to the term of “Third World.”  Traditionally, the “First World” was the highly industrialized capitalistic societies of Europe, Japan, and the United States, and the “Second World” was the less developed nations under communism.</ref> of Latin America, Africa, and many parts of Asia, the Cold War became a battle for influence over the system of government adopted by any and every small country.  It seemed like there were only two choices:  communist or free (capitalist).  Both the United States and Soviet Union would compete with each other to provide to developing nations aid, military advisers, social workers (e.g., the Peace Corps from the United States), educational programs and technology.

This drama has been playing out in Latin America ever since World War II, and remains an issue even now.  In the 1950s, the United States supported Fulgencio Batista as dictator of Cuba, but Fidel Castro overthrew him in 1959.  Liberals in the United States promoted Castro as a hero, and he was welcomed to talk at American colleges.  But just as conservatives predicted, Castro became a ruthless communist dictator who brutally suppressed all opposition and ended free speech and free enterprise on the island of Cuba.  Castro seized private industries, such as the thriving sugar refineries, and predictably the economy collapsed.  Cuba fell from being one of the most prosperous nations to one of the poorest.  Today most Cubans cannot even afford to own an automobile.

This drama has been playing out in Latin America ever since World War II, and remains an issue even now.  In the 1950s, the United States supported Fulgencio Batista as dictator of Cuba, but Fidel Castro overthrew him in 1959.  Liberals in the United States promoted Castro as a hero, and he was welcomed to talk at American colleges.  But just as conservatives predicted, Castro became a ruthless communist dictator who brutally suppressed all opposition and ended free speech and free enterprise on the island of Cuba.  Castro seized private industries, such as the thriving sugar refineries, and predictably the Cuban economy collapsed.  Cuba fell from being one of the most prosperous nations to one of the poorest.  Today most Cubans cannot even afford to own an automobile.

The United States imposed a trade embargo on Cuba and the Soviet Union provided it with aid, which was a typical pattern in this Cold War between the two superpowers.  Cubans who had fled to Florida from the island arranged for an invasion of Cuba in April 1961 to overthrow Castro.  President John F. Kennedy withheld support at the last minute and someone in his Administration probably leaked the plans to Castro, who was then waiting for it and slaughtered the invaders at the Bay of Pigs.  President Kennedy allowed the United States to be humiliated by this.

The United States imposed a trade embargo on Cuba and the Soviet Union provided it with aid, which was a typical pattern in this Cold War between the two superpowers.  Cubans who had fled to Florida from the island arranged for an invasion of Cuba in April 1961 to overthrow Castro.  President John F. Kennedy withheld support at the last minute and someone in his Administration probably leaked the plans to Castro, who was then waiting for it and slaughtered the invaders at the Bay of Pigs.  President Kennedy allowed the United States to be humiliated by this.

Strengthened, Castro became more aggressive and in 1962 began to install Soviet missiles to point them directly at the United States.  President Kennedy ordered a blockade of Cuba to prevent installation of additional missiles, and a top American general put his bombers into combat mode.  This demonstrated a readiness to go to war (“brinkmanship”) and the Soviet leader Khrushchev then backed down.  Khrushchev agreed to remove the missiles when the United States agreed not to invade Cuba.

Strengthened, Castro became more aggressive and in 1962 began to install Soviet missiles to point them directly at the United States.  President Kennedy ordered a blockade of Cuba to prevent installation of additional missiles, and a top American general put his bombers into combat mode.  This demonstrated a readiness to go to war (“brinkmanship”) and the Soviet leader Khrushchev then backed down.  Khrushchev agreed to remove the missiles when the United States agreed not to invade Cuba.

But Cuba continued to grow closer to the Soviet Union, which funded its failing economy.  In the 1970s Cuba sent 50,000 soldiers to help communism in Angola, and Cuba remained there until 1988.  When communism itself fell in the Soviet Union in 1991 and it broke up, Cuba lost its funding.  It became even poorer then.

But Cuba continued to grow closer politically to the Soviet Union, which funded its failing economy.  In the 1970s Cuba sent 50,000 soldiers to help communism in Angola, and Cuba remained there until 1988.  When communism itself fell in the Soviet Union in 1991 and it broke up, Cuba lost its funding.  It became even poorer, dropping to desperate levels of poverty throughout the nation.

Communism in Latin America was not limited to Cuba.  In Nicaragua, communist rebels named the Sandinistas overthrew an American-backed ruler named Anastasio Somoza.  The United States then supported the anti-communist Contras in the 1980s.  In 1990, the Sandinista leader Daniel Ortega finally agreed to hold free elections in order to end the civil war, and he was defeated by the pro-American Violeta Chamorro.  But in 1997 Arnoldo Alemán was elected as the Nicaraguan leader. Although a supposedly rightist, he formed a pact with the Sandinistas against his own Liberal Constitutionalist Party, and near the end of 2006 Daniel Ortega completed a successful comeback by being elected as president based on his claim that he is not a communist anymore.  He won with only about 38% of the vote, benefiting from a change in rules that no longer requires at least 45% of the vote to win.

Communism in Latin America was not limited to Cuba.  In Nicaragua, communist rebels named the Sandinistas overthrew an American-backed ruler named Anastasio Somoza.  The United States then supported the anti-communist Contras in the 1980s.  In 1990, the Sandinista leader Daniel Ortega finally agreed to hold free elections in order to end the civil war, and he was defeated by the pro-American Violeta Chamorro.  But in 1997 Arnoldo Alemán was elected as the Nicaraguan leader. Although a supposedly not a communist, he formed a pact with the Sandinistas against his own Liberal Constitutionalist Party, and near the end of 2006 Daniel Ortega completed a successful comeback by being elected as president based on his claim that he is not a communist anymore.  He won with only about 38% of the vote, benefiting from a change in rules that no longer requires at least 45% of the vote to win.

The poverty in many countries in Latin America may help explain why communism is more popular there.  In Nicaragua, one of the poorest nations in Latin America, 46% of the population lived on less than $386 in income for the entire year of 2001.  Not only is a job hard to find, but electricity and drinking water are not always available either.  

The poverty in many countries in Latin America may help explain why communism is more popular there.  In Nicaragua, one of the poorest nations in Latin America, 46% of the population lived on less than $386 in income for the entire year of 2001.  Not only is a job hard to find, but electricity and drinking water are not always available either.  

Poverty alone cannot explain the popularity of communism. In oil-rich Venezuela, the people reelected the communist Hugo Chavez in December 2006, and he is exporting communism to other nations there.  Young and intimidating, Chavez is described as 'Castro with money.'  In April 2009, he and President Barack Obama shook hands with enthusiasm for the cameras.

Poverty alone cannot explain the popularity of communism. In oil-rich Venezuela, the people reelected the communist Hugo Chavez in December 2006, and he spread communism to other nations there.  Young and intimidating, Chavez was described as 'Castro with money.'  In April 2009, he and President Barack Obama shook hands with enthusiasm for the cameras.  But Chavez's insistence on communism was his downfall, because he developed prostate cancer and the inadequate communist health care system was unable to save him (American health care probably could have).  Chavez died in 2013 at the age of only 59.

=== Middle East (Southwest Asia) ===

=== Middle East (Southwest Asia) ===

In 1980, the Sunni Iraq leader Saddam Hussein sought to conquer neighboring Iran.  Iraq and Iran fought a fierce battle for nearly a decade without a victory by either side.

In 1980, the Sunni Iraq leader Saddam Hussein sought to conquer neighboring Iran.  Iraq and Iran fought a fierce battle for nearly a decade without a victory by either side.

In 1979, Muslims in Afghanistan (in Southwest Asia) revolted against the Soviet-friendly communist government there.  The Soviets responded by invading Afghanistan and attempting to suppress the revolution.  The United States reacted to this Soviet invasion by boycotting the summer Olympic Games in Moscow and providing arms to the Afghan rebels.  The Soviets struggled for a decade in Afghanistan, much as the United States had struggled in Vietnam, and the Soviets eventually withdrew from the country.  In many ways, Islam is a more powerful ideology than communism, and in this case Islam did defeat communism in Afghanistan.  But just as there are people who are communist (or socialist) Christians, there are also communist (or socialist) Muslims.

In 1979, Muslims in Afghanistan (in Southwest Asia) revolted against the Soviet-friendly communist government there.  The Soviets responded by invading Afghanistan and attempting to suppress the revolution.  The United States reacted to this Soviet invasion by boycotting the summer Olympic Games in Moscow and providing arms to the Afghan rebels.  The Soviets struggled for a decade in Afghanistan, much as the United States had struggled in Vietnam, and the Soviets eventually withdrew from the country.  In many ways, Islam is a more powerful ideology than communism, and in this case Islam did defeat communism in Afghanistan.  But some communists claim to be Christians, there are also some communist (or socialist) Muslims.

=== Eastern Europe ===

=== Eastern Europe ===

Stalin died in 1953, and Nikita Khrushchev replaced him as the dictator over the Soviet Union.  Khrushchev was an aggressive leader who had brutally carried out Stalin’s policies while Stalin was alive, but then denounced Stalin as soon as he died and tried to purge all memory of Stalin (“destalinization”).  However, Khrushchev was nearly as evil as Stalin was.  Khrushchev viciously repressed a freedom movement in Hungary in October 1956.  He ordered an invasion with Soviet tanks and arranged for the execution of the Hungarian leader Imre Nagy, who sought to hold free elections.  Khrushchev replaced him with a pro-Soviet puppet.  Thousands of Hungarian “freedom fighters” were slaughtered by the Soviets, and the Hungarian religious leader Joseph Cardinal Mindszenty (a high-ranking clergyman in the Catholic Church) fled to the United States embassy to survive.  The communist dictatorship installed by the Soviets prevented him from stepping foot outside of the embassy building for the next 15 years.  Imagine never once leaving your home for 15 years!

Stalin died in 1953, and Nikita Khrushchev replaced him as the dictator over the Soviet Union.  Khrushchev was an aggressive leader who had brutally carried out Stalin’s policies while Stalin was alive, but then denounced Stalin as soon as he died and tried to purge all memory of Stalin (“destalinization”).  However, Khrushchev was nearly as evil as Stalin was.  Khrushchev viciously repressed a freedom movement in Hungary in October 1956.  He ordered an invasion with Soviet tanks and arranged for the execution of the Hungarian leader Imre Nagy, who sought to hold free elections.  Khrushchev replaced him with a pro-Soviet puppet (a "puppet" in politics is someone who is controlled in his political decisions by someone else).  Thousands of Hungarian “freedom fighters” were slaughtered by the Soviets, and the Hungarian religious leader Joseph Cardinal Mindszenty (a high-ranking clergyman in the Catholic Church) fled to the United States embassy to survive. (A country's embassy is considered part of that country, and even though it is located in another nation the authorities in the other nation are not allowed to go inside without permission.) The communist dictatorship installed by the Soviets prevented him from stepping foot outside of the embassy building for the next 15 years.  Imagine never once leaving your home for 15 years!

Khrushchev also ordered the building of the Berlin Wall and the placement of missiles in Cuba, which led to the Cuban Missile Crisis.  But Khrushchev’s confrontational personality was too much even for his fellow communists, as he would often interrupt speeches by others and act in other unpredictable ways.  Khrushchev could not get along with China, even though both were communist countries.  In 1960, Khrushchev stopped sharing atomic bomb secrets with China, and later there was even a little violence along their long border.

Khrushchev also ordered the building of the Berlin Wall and the placement of missiles in Cuba, which led to the Cuban Missile Crisis.  But Khrushchev’s confrontational personality was too much even for his fellow communists, as he would often interrupt speeches by others and act in other unpredictable ways.  Khrushchev could not get along with China, even though both were communist countries.  In 1960, Khrushchev stopped sharing atomic bomb secrets with China, and later there was even a little violence along their long border.