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00:00:16,216 --> 00:00:18,822
NARRATION:
As the colonial era drew to a close,
2
00:00:18,885 --> 00:00:21,024
the Soviet Union believed
the world would turn
3
00:00:21,087 --> 00:00:26,002
to socialism and preached that
message in its propaganda.
4
00:00:26,059 --> 00:00:29,040
The United States
was concerned.
5
00:00:29,095 --> 00:00:31,974
JOSEPH SISCO: The feeling was
very strong in Washington that
6
00:00:32,032 --> 00:00:35,673
the Soviets were pursuing
a policy of expansion into
7
00:00:35,735 --> 00:00:40,878
the Third World and our objective
was to prevent that.
8
00:00:43,243 --> 00:00:44,085
9
00:01:22,248 --> 00:01:24,660
NARRATION:
Nikita Khrushchev and Gamal Abdel Nasser
10
00:01:24,717 --> 00:01:27,254
change the face of Egypt.
11
00:01:27,320 --> 00:01:28,162
[ explosion ]
12
00:01:34,227 --> 00:01:37,470
After the West had refused a
loan for a dam across the Nile,
13
00:01:37,530 --> 00:01:39,203
the Soviet Union
took over.
14
00:01:43,703 --> 00:01:47,708
The emerging nations used the
Cold War to get money and arms.
15
00:01:54,914 --> 00:01:56,916
The Developing World
was being courted.
16
00:01:59,185 --> 00:02:00,129
[speaking Russian ]
17
00:02:03,123 --> 00:02:06,036
In Europe, the
borders were set in stone
18
00:02:06,092 --> 00:02:07,833
and there was no
opportunity of expansion
19
00:02:07,894 --> 00:02:10,807
there for either side -
20
00:02:10,864 --> 00:02:15,074
it would have started
a new world war.
21
00:02:15,135 --> 00:02:18,241
Where could the
hunting take place?
22
00:02:18,304 --> 00:02:19,612
To be rather crude,
23
00:02:19,672 --> 00:02:22,414
in those areas where
there was still prey.
24
00:02:22,475 --> 00:02:25,251
That was the Third World
25
00:02:25,311 --> 00:02:28,656
and each side tried
not to miss a chance.
26
00:02:31,518 --> 00:02:33,395
[ Chanting ]
27
00:02:33,453 --> 00:02:35,433
NARRATION:
In the Horn of Africa, the Soviet Union
28
00:02:35,488 --> 00:02:37,490
backed two rival
and opposed regimes.
29
00:02:39,859 --> 00:02:40,860
For America,
30
00:02:40,927 --> 00:02:42,929
this was evidence of
Soviet expansion.
31
00:02:46,933 --> 00:02:49,743
In Angola, thousands of
Cubans poured in to fight
32
00:02:49,802 --> 00:02:54,979
South African troops
backed by the United States.
33
00:02:58,378 --> 00:02:59,550
In Egypt
34
00:02:59,612 --> 00:03:02,889
the Soviet Union supplied arms
cheaply and on credit.
35
00:03:07,020 --> 00:03:11,935
But President Nasser
wasn't easily influenced.
36
00:03:11,991 --> 00:03:13,334
VADIM KIRPICHENKO:
[speaking Russian ]
37
00:03:16,296 --> 00:03:18,401
One shouldn't think
of our relations with Nasser
38
00:03:18,464 --> 00:03:22,810
as the relations of
master and servant.
39
00:03:22,869 --> 00:03:28,376
Nasser always pursued
his own policy.
40
00:03:28,441 --> 00:03:32,446
SAAD EL-SHAZLY: He was able to
understand the global strategy and now,
41
00:03:35,248 --> 00:03:39,560
we can benefit from
the disagreement between the
42
00:03:39,619 --> 00:03:44,534
Soviet Union and between
the United States and the West,
43
00:03:44,591 --> 00:03:46,935
and make benefit of
this situation to
44
00:03:49,662 --> 00:03:55,806
to raise our capabilities
militarily and economically.
45
00:03:59,138 --> 00:04:03,177
NARRATION:
Nasser was the hero of the Arab world.
46
00:04:03,243 --> 00:04:05,814
The Egyptians rallied for war.
47
00:04:05,878 --> 00:04:07,949
[ Chanting ]
48
00:04:08,014 --> 00:04:10,722
[ Crowds ]
49
00:04:10,783 --> 00:04:15,425
Nasser and the Arab States
wanted to destroy Israel.
50
00:04:15,488 --> 00:04:17,798
Moscow did not.
51
00:04:21,628 --> 00:04:22,936
In 1948,
52
00:04:22,996 --> 00:04:25,374
the Soviet Union had
supported the creation
53
00:04:25,431 --> 00:04:28,105
of the state of
Israel on Arab lands.
54
00:04:33,339 --> 00:04:36,877
By 1967, Israel's two
and half million Jews
55
00:04:36,943 --> 00:04:39,287
were surrounded by
90 million hostile Arabs.
56
00:04:41,848 --> 00:04:42,849
Israel felt insecure.
57
00:04:47,053 --> 00:04:50,523
The threat from
Egypt became intense.
58
00:04:50,590 --> 00:04:53,036
Israel had America's
political backing
59
00:04:53,092 --> 00:04:54,435
but not her weapons.
60
00:04:56,863 --> 00:04:59,867
Would Israel get America's
support for a surprise attack?
61
00:05:01,868 --> 00:05:05,111
ROBERT McNAMARA: President Johnson asked
us to bring Israel's Foreign Minister
62
00:05:05,171 --> 00:05:08,744
to the family
quarters of the White House and,
63
00:05:08,808 --> 00:05:10,981
to speak rather
crudely about it,
64
00:05:11,044 --> 00:05:14,548
the intent was to work him over,
to persuade him is perhaps
65
00:05:14,614 --> 00:05:16,287
a more polite term,
to...
66
00:05:18,551 --> 00:05:20,224
to avoid a
pre-emptive attack.
67
00:05:22,322 --> 00:05:24,461
We thought we had
persuaded him.
68
00:05:24,524 --> 00:05:28,802
[ Alarms ]
69
00:05:33,800 --> 00:05:35,643
NARRATION:
Israel struck first.
70
00:05:35,702 --> 00:05:39,445
In less than three hours,
90% of the Egyptian air force was
71
00:05:39,505 --> 00:05:43,009
destroyed on the ground.
72
00:05:48,147 --> 00:05:50,650
The Israelis seized
East Jerusalem-
73
00:05:50,717 --> 00:05:53,960
Jews were able to pray at
the Wailing Wall again.
74
00:05:57,790 --> 00:05:59,463
The Israelis pressed on.
75
00:05:59,525 --> 00:06:02,096
Within six days,
the armies of Egypt, Syria
76
00:06:02,161 --> 00:06:05,506
and Jordan were routed.
77
00:06:09,369 --> 00:06:13,875
The Map of the Middle East
was transformed.
78
00:06:13,940 --> 00:06:15,613
Israel had
trebled its size.
79
00:06:18,911 --> 00:06:21,790
SIMCHA DINITZ: In the contest
between Russia and America within
80
00:06:21,848 --> 00:06:23,885
the Cold War
in the Middle East,
81
00:06:23,950 --> 00:06:28,399
Israel was an automatic
ally of the West.
82
00:06:28,454 --> 00:06:30,559
Since the Six Day War,
this automatic ally
83
00:06:30,623 --> 00:06:33,797
became a strategic asset.
84
00:06:33,860 --> 00:06:38,275
NARRATION: America became Israel's
principal source of arms.
85
00:06:43,069 --> 00:06:46,175
In the occupied territories,
a million Arabs fell under
86
00:06:46,239 --> 00:06:48,446
Israeli rule.
87
00:06:50,810 --> 00:06:54,724
It was a devastating
blow to Arab morale.
88
00:06:54,781 --> 00:06:57,694
The Soviets
counted the cost.
89
00:06:57,750 --> 00:06:58,751
[speaking Russian ]
90
00:07:04,257 --> 00:07:05,668
Our weapons turned out
to be less effective
91
00:07:05,725 --> 00:07:06,726
than we calculated.
92
00:07:09,996 --> 00:07:12,374
We felt that it was
our duty to compensate,
93
00:07:12,432 --> 00:07:13,775
to supply more arms,
94
00:07:16,769 --> 00:07:18,009
and looking at
the wider context-
95
00:07:18,070 --> 00:07:22,018
not to let the West win.
96
00:07:26,879 --> 00:07:28,825
NARRATION:
September 1970:
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00:07:28,881 --> 00:07:34,388
grief in Egypt at the death of
President Gamal Abd Al Nasser.
98
00:07:38,157 --> 00:07:41,604
The Developing World mourned
an outstanding leader.
99
00:07:41,661 --> 00:07:43,663
So did Soviet
Prime Minister Kosygin.
100
00:07:45,898 --> 00:07:50,472
The mourners were uneasy,
as were the Russians -
101
00:07:50,536 --> 00:07:53,847
who could follow Nasser?
102
00:07:53,906 --> 00:07:59,288
I shall do my best to follow
the policy of my late President,
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00:07:59,345 --> 00:08:00,949
my dearest friend
President Gamal.
104
00:08:04,317 --> 00:08:06,991
But no-one will capitulate
here in this country.
105
00:08:10,723 --> 00:08:14,034
I'm not ready to
capitulate or
106
00:08:14,093 --> 00:08:20,169
to surrender one
inch or a bit of sand.
107
00:08:23,903 --> 00:08:27,817
NARRATION: At the Moscow summit
of 1972 the super- powers agreed
108
00:08:27,874 --> 00:08:32,254
on a code of conduct - détente.
109
00:08:32,311 --> 00:08:35,087
Richard Nixon and Leonid
Brezhnev agreed not to seek
110
00:08:35,147 --> 00:08:36,820
advantage at the
other's expense.
111
00:08:39,886 --> 00:08:42,162
Better ties with America
outweighed Moscow's
112
00:08:42,221 --> 00:08:45,725
commitments to the Arabs.
[ applause ]
113
00:08:45,791 --> 00:08:48,032
This angered Sadat because
he felt that they were
114
00:08:48,094 --> 00:08:51,303
giving priority to
détente with the Americans,
115
00:08:51,364 --> 00:08:56,245
rather than helping
Egypt wage a war.
116
00:09:00,206 --> 00:09:02,208
NARRATION: But détente
didn't stop American efforts
117
00:09:02,275 --> 00:09:05,620
extend its influence in the
Middle East at Moscow's expense.
118
00:09:07,647 --> 00:09:09,991
Our policy
in '72 was really
119
00:09:12,285 --> 00:09:15,027
to try to minimize
and reduce the role -
120
00:09:15,087 --> 00:09:16,566
I'll go further -
121
00:09:16,622 --> 00:09:19,762
to keep the Soviets
out of the situation.
122
00:09:19,825 --> 00:09:21,827
We established the
policy that
123
00:09:24,997 --> 00:09:26,567
we would thwart any move,
124
00:09:26,632 --> 00:09:29,135
backed by Soviet arms,
125
00:09:29,201 --> 00:09:32,774
until some Arab leader
would become so frustrated
126
00:09:32,838 --> 00:09:34,818
that he would turn
to us for diplomacy
127
00:09:34,874 --> 00:09:37,514
and then we would try
to take as even-handed
128
00:09:37,577 --> 00:09:41,457
a position as we were
capable of developing.
129
00:09:44,483 --> 00:09:45,325
NARRATION:
In Egypt,
130
00:09:45,384 --> 00:09:47,364
as in many other
developing nations,
131
00:09:47,420 --> 00:09:50,299
the Soviet presence was huge.
132
00:09:50,356 --> 00:09:54,236
In July 1972, Sadat
told the 15,000 advisers
133
00:09:54,293 --> 00:09:56,967
and their families
to pack up and go.
134
00:10:02,535 --> 00:10:04,481
It was a bold power play.
135
00:10:04,537 --> 00:10:06,517
Sadat's move boosted
his popularity
136
00:10:06,572 --> 00:10:10,179
and showed how little control
the Russians really had.
137
00:10:12,745 --> 00:10:14,691
By October '72,
138
00:10:14,747 --> 00:10:18,422
they decided to come
back to the support of Egypt.
139
00:10:20,886 --> 00:10:23,366
And then Sadat make
benefit from that;
140
00:10:23,422 --> 00:10:28,235
he says "Well I expelled
them to express power,
141
00:10:28,294 --> 00:10:31,537
so that they would
give us what we need."
142
00:10:31,597 --> 00:10:35,511
And strange enough,
we had arms deal after
143
00:10:35,568 --> 00:10:38,014
October which was
one of the biggest arms
144
00:10:38,070 --> 00:10:40,607
deals we've got with
the Soviet Union.
145
00:10:43,509 --> 00:10:45,455
Sadat needed the arms.
146
00:10:45,511 --> 00:10:50,119
He was planning to
end the uneasy peace.
147
00:10:50,182 --> 00:10:51,320
He wanted to go to war -
148
00:10:51,384 --> 00:10:52,385
he needed to go to war.
149
00:10:52,451 --> 00:10:54,021
He felt he couldn't
do otherwise.
150
00:10:54,086 --> 00:10:57,067
He considered that negotiations
were impossible without
151
00:10:57,123 --> 00:11:00,730
some heating of
the whole process -
152
00:11:00,793 --> 00:11:02,773
I mean, some shock therapy.
153
00:11:06,832 --> 00:11:10,473
NARRATION:
Yom Kippur, Israel's most holy day.
154
00:11:10,536 --> 00:11:12,413
Four thousand
Egyptian troops
155
00:11:12,471 --> 00:11:14,815
and tanks surged
over the Suez Canal.
156
00:11:18,077 --> 00:11:20,717
[speaking Egyptian ]
157
00:11:20,780 --> 00:11:23,454
We'd been waiting for
this moment for five years,
158
00:11:23,516 --> 00:11:25,860
the moment of
crossing the canal.
159
00:11:31,357 --> 00:11:34,361
Our cries shook the ground
under the Israeli enemy.
160
00:11:40,132 --> 00:11:42,043
The cry of
'God is Great'
161
00:11:42,101 --> 00:11:45,082
made all our hair
stand up on end.
162
00:11:45,137 --> 00:11:49,415
[ Chanting ]
163
00:11:54,480 --> 00:11:56,517
NARRATION:
The Egyptian army sped ahead -
164
00:11:56,582 --> 00:11:58,255
eager to retake
lost territory.
165
00:12:00,686 --> 00:12:01,528
[chanting slogans]
166
00:12:03,823 --> 00:12:06,167
American Jews demanded
immediate help for Israel.
167
00:12:08,494 --> 00:12:10,167
Washington was in a dilemma.
168
00:12:14,166 --> 00:12:16,840
Supplying its ally Israel risked
sacrificing Arab goodwill.
169
00:12:19,872 --> 00:12:22,011
The State Department stalled.
170
00:12:22,074 --> 00:12:24,680
There was an argument
as to whether
171
00:12:24,744 --> 00:12:27,088
transport was available
and the Pentagon suggestion
172
00:12:29,515 --> 00:12:31,517
was that private
transport be leased.
173
00:12:34,887 --> 00:12:35,888
[speaking Israeli ]
174
00:12:39,058 --> 00:12:40,935
We were very disappointed
and angry that supplies
175
00:12:40,993 --> 00:12:45,135
were arriving so slowly
and only on EIAI planes.
176
00:12:45,197 --> 00:12:48,041
The air convoy was
delayed again and again.
177
00:12:53,639 --> 00:12:55,983
NARRATION:
The Egyptians kept up their attack.
178
00:12:58,410 --> 00:13:00,412
ABBA EBAN: The United States
began to understand that we were
179
00:13:00,479 --> 00:13:03,323
in a serious situation
when we suddenly changed
180
00:13:03,382 --> 00:13:06,727
our tune from
this very blithe,
181
00:13:06,786 --> 00:13:07,787
typically Israeli
self-confidence
182
00:13:09,955 --> 00:13:11,525
to a report that,
183
00:13:11,590 --> 00:13:16,266
as a result of what happened,
we were losing our life-blood.
184
00:13:20,699 --> 00:13:22,269
[ Applause ]
185
00:13:22,334 --> 00:13:23,904
NARRATION:
Sadat was triumphant;
186
00:13:23,969 --> 00:13:27,815
he had regained land Egypt
lost in the Six Day War.
187
00:13:31,110 --> 00:13:33,750
But the Russians
sensed disaster ahead.
188
00:13:33,813 --> 00:13:37,124
They urged Sadat to
accept a ceasefire.
189
00:13:37,183 --> 00:13:38,526
[speaking Russian ]
190
00:13:38,584 --> 00:13:40,359
He would benefit
from a ceasefire -
191
00:13:40,419 --> 00:13:42,490
otherwise, he'd be
forced to retreat.
192
00:13:42,555 --> 00:13:44,933
But Sadat
wouldn't listen.
193
00:13:48,828 --> 00:13:51,206
NARRATION: in Washington,
President Nixon
194
00:13:51,263 --> 00:13:53,607
ended the delay over
the arms shipments.
195
00:13:55,901 --> 00:13:57,972
Nixon said when the
option was brought
196
00:13:58,037 --> 00:14:00,039
to him to send two
or three American planes,
197
00:14:00,105 --> 00:14:01,982
said "Let's send a lot,
198
00:14:02,041 --> 00:14:04,351
because we are going
to be criticized anyhow
199
00:14:04,410 --> 00:14:06,856
and we will be criticized
for whatever we do,
200
00:14:06,912 --> 00:14:09,256
for one plane or two planes,
as for 40 planes,
201
00:14:09,315 --> 00:14:12,091
so let's do it
in an effective way."
202
00:14:16,789 --> 00:14:18,200
NARRATION: The airlift
put the world's largest
203
00:14:18,257 --> 00:14:19,600
power publicly
alongside Israel.
204
00:14:23,028 --> 00:14:26,942
Now, it was Moscow's
allies that faced defeat.
205
00:14:32,037 --> 00:14:35,041
Now the Israelis crossed
the Suez Canal into Egypt.
206
00:14:38,143 --> 00:14:42,489
Soon, most of the Egyptian army
would be stranded in the Sinai.
207
00:14:44,516 --> 00:14:45,859
ANATOLY DOBRYNIN:
[speaking Russian ]
208
00:14:48,187 --> 00:14:50,428
Then Sadat got terrified.
209
00:14:50,489 --> 00:14:54,596
He spoke on the phone
directly to Brezhnev.
210
00:14:54,660 --> 00:14:55,695
I was there.
211
00:14:55,761 --> 00:14:58,332
I remember him begging,
"Save us,
212
00:14:58,397 --> 00:15:01,571
save us from
these Israeli tanks!"
213
00:15:03,836 --> 00:15:05,611
[tank fire]
214
00:15:15,514 --> 00:15:20,429
NARRATION: Cut off in the desert,
the Egyptians faced defeat.
215
00:15:20,486 --> 00:15:23,933
Moscow called
for a ceasefire.
216
00:15:23,989 --> 00:15:28,165
They realized that the
greater the military victory
217
00:15:28,227 --> 00:15:29,968
on the part of
the Israelis,
218
00:15:30,029 --> 00:15:33,238
the greater defeat
of Soviet supply
219
00:15:33,299 --> 00:15:37,770
and a general weakening
of the Soviet position
220
00:15:37,836 --> 00:15:40,680
in the entire region.
221
00:15:42,775 --> 00:15:44,516
The Soviets and
Henry Kissinger
222
00:15:44,576 --> 00:15:47,079
rapidly agreed proposals
for a cease-fire.
223
00:15:51,583 --> 00:15:53,563
As Kissinger arrived
in Israel to break the
224
00:15:53,619 --> 00:15:56,293
news to the Israelis,
the superpowers' ability
225
00:15:56,355 --> 00:15:59,199
to restrain their allies
would be tested.
226
00:16:03,395 --> 00:16:06,171
He had made commitments
which some of our leaders,
227
00:16:06,231 --> 00:16:08,006
especially Golda Meir,
our Prime Minister,
228
00:16:08,067 --> 00:16:10,673
believed to have
been rather rash.
229
00:16:10,736 --> 00:16:11,976
And when he
landed he said,
230
00:16:12,037 --> 00:16:15,678
"I'm going to be
chastised for this".
231
00:16:15,741 --> 00:16:16,583
[ Applause ]
232
00:16:16,642 --> 00:16:20,647
NARRATION:
Israel wasn't yet willing to end the war.
233
00:16:20,713 --> 00:16:23,125
SIMCHA DINITZ:
Kissinger explained what happened,
234
00:16:23,182 --> 00:16:27,460
and he vowed to continue
to help Israel in case
235
00:16:27,519 --> 00:16:29,521
there is a renewal
of fighting.
236
00:16:36,428 --> 00:16:39,102
With America's connivance,
Israel stepped up its onslaught.
237
00:16:41,133 --> 00:16:43,044
The Soviets were outraged.
238
00:16:43,102 --> 00:16:45,776
[speaking Russian ]
239
00:16:45,838 --> 00:16:47,408
Brezhnev wrote a
letter to Nixon saying,
240
00:16:47,473 --> 00:16:49,578
"How is it, when we've
agreed to act jointly,
241
00:16:49,641 --> 00:16:53,316
that the Israelis are
continuing to advance.
242
00:16:53,379 --> 00:16:57,486
It is undermining all our
attempts to make peace."
243
00:17:01,220 --> 00:17:02,995
We suggested that
both the Americans
244
00:17:03,055 --> 00:17:05,331
and the Soviets send
troops to the Middle East
245
00:17:05,391 --> 00:17:07,393
to make Israel accept
the ceasefire.
246
00:17:12,564 --> 00:17:14,544
But there was also
a sentence that said:
247
00:17:14,600 --> 00:17:17,012
"If you won't do it,
we will have to consider
248
00:17:17,069 --> 00:17:21,381
unilateral action."
249
00:17:21,440 --> 00:17:24,478
The Soviet leaders had
every reason to look
250
00:17:24,543 --> 00:17:28,184
at this as if there had
been some sort of a plot
251
00:17:28,247 --> 00:17:29,851
and they reacted
very violently
252
00:17:29,915 --> 00:17:34,523
and they sent us an extremely
tough note saying that they
253
00:17:34,586 --> 00:17:37,192
wanted joint American-Soviet
intervention,
254
00:17:37,256 --> 00:17:41,830
and if not,
they would act unilaterally.
255
00:17:41,894 --> 00:17:43,896
NARRATION: Kissinger
deliberately upped the ante.
256
00:17:46,265 --> 00:17:48,404
Determined to forestall
any Soviet intervention
257
00:17:48,467 --> 00:17:49,571
in the Middle East,
258
00:17:49,635 --> 00:17:52,309
he placed American nuclear
forces on heightened alert.
259
00:17:56,442 --> 00:17:58,422
The basic purpose
was to generate
260
00:17:58,477 --> 00:18:01,481
a lot of traffic
that the Soviet Union
261
00:18:01,547 --> 00:18:04,118
would pick up before
they received our reply,
262
00:18:04,183 --> 00:18:08,393
to know that this
was getting serious.
263
00:18:11,356 --> 00:18:13,336
NARRATION: Moscow didn't
react to the alert.
264
00:18:13,392 --> 00:18:14,769
They had already
abandoned the
265
00:18:14,827 --> 00:18:16,500
idea of unilaterally
sending troops.
266
00:18:18,697 --> 00:18:20,199
That was a
clearly a political
267
00:18:20,265 --> 00:18:22,074
victory for the
United States,
268
00:18:22,134 --> 00:18:25,411
a major political victory
that had repercussions
269
00:18:25,471 --> 00:18:28,645
in the Cold War, far
beyond the Middle East.
270
00:18:33,412 --> 00:18:34,891
NARRATION:
Under American pressure,
271
00:18:34,947 --> 00:18:39,259
Israel allowed food and water to
reach the trapped Egyptian army.
272
00:18:39,318 --> 00:18:41,662
Kissinger wanted Egypt
defeated but not destroyed.
273
00:18:50,829 --> 00:18:53,776
With the Israelis just
100 kilometers from Cairo,
274
00:18:53,832 --> 00:18:54,833
the Egyptians were
275
00:18:54,900 --> 00:18:59,007
forced into their first ever
face to face talks with Israel.
276
00:18:59,071 --> 00:19:01,779
Moscow was not involved.
277
00:19:01,840 --> 00:19:05,982
JOSEPH SISCO:
The Egyptians saw that the vehicle
278
00:19:06,044 --> 00:19:10,220
for getting on with
what subsequently became
279
00:19:10,282 --> 00:19:13,923
the disengagement agreements
between Egypt and Israel,
280
00:19:13,986 --> 00:19:17,729
that it was the United States
that carried all the cards.
281
00:19:20,759 --> 00:19:23,000
NARRATION: Henry Kissinger
became the world's most famous
282
00:19:23,061 --> 00:19:23,903
frequent flyer.
283
00:19:26,532 --> 00:19:31,880
Shuttle diplomacy gave
him easy access to Sadat.
284
00:19:31,937 --> 00:19:33,917
MOHAMED SID AHMED: The relationship
had fundamentally changed.
285
00:19:33,972 --> 00:19:38,944
I mean, since the war, Sadat
believed that the main global
286
00:19:39,011 --> 00:19:45,428
party he should woo
was the Americans.
287
00:19:45,484 --> 00:19:48,158
NARRATION: Kissinger's travels
didn't bring about permanent peace.
288
00:19:50,389 --> 00:19:53,495
They showed America was winning
the Cold War in the Middle East.
289
00:19:53,559 --> 00:19:56,369
But there was
a price to pay.
290
00:19:56,428 --> 00:19:57,429
[speaking Russian ]
291
00:19:59,932 --> 00:20:02,936
These events unfavorably
affected the process of detente.
292
00:20:07,573 --> 00:20:09,746
They strengthened the
mistrust of the Soviet Union
293
00:20:09,808 --> 00:20:13,654
towards the United States.
294
00:20:20,152 --> 00:20:21,153
NARRATION:
Africa, 1975.
295
00:20:23,188 --> 00:20:25,361
The last colonial
empire was dying
296
00:20:25,424 --> 00:20:28,928
and the people of Angola
reached for freedom
297
00:20:28,994 --> 00:20:32,840
fresh hunting grounds for
the Cold War superpowers.
298
00:20:35,934 --> 00:20:38,312
As Portuguese troops
pulled out of Angola,
299
00:20:38,370 --> 00:20:40,043
three groups
jostled for power.
300
00:20:44,710 --> 00:20:49,557
Americas fears
were aroused.
301
00:20:49,615 --> 00:20:52,027
When Bill Colby
the CIA director
302
00:20:52,084 --> 00:20:54,826
went to brief the
National Security Council
303
00:20:54,886 --> 00:20:57,423
in the White House the
first time on this
304
00:20:57,489 --> 00:20:59,491
his briefing was literally:
305
00:20:59,558 --> 00:21:03,165
"Gentlemen, this is a map of
Africa, and here is Angola.
306
00:21:06,398 --> 00:21:09,379
Now in Angola we
have 3 factions,
307
00:21:09,434 --> 00:21:12,415
there's the MPLA
they're the bad guys.
308
00:21:12,471 --> 00:21:14,747
The FNLA they're
the good guys
309
00:21:14,806 --> 00:21:18,583
and there's UNITA and Jonas
Savimbi we don't know too well."
310
00:21:18,644 --> 00:21:19,622
And that was to get the
311
00:21:19,678 --> 00:21:22,921
National Security Council
involved in this thing.
312
00:21:27,519 --> 00:21:30,125
NARRATION: The Popular Movement
for the Liberation of Angola -
313
00:21:30,188 --> 00:21:32,862
the MPLA, the largest group -
was left wing.
314
00:21:34,993 --> 00:21:37,030
Based in and
around the capital, Luanda,
315
00:21:37,095 --> 00:21:38,870
its multi-ethnic
membership was led
316
00:21:38,930 --> 00:21:40,932
by Agostinho Nets
and Ludo Lara.
317
00:21:43,669 --> 00:21:46,343
In the 1960s it had
received training from Cuba
318
00:21:46,405 --> 00:21:48,578
and arms from Moscow.
319
00:21:53,945 --> 00:21:57,518
The National Front for the
Liberation of Angola, the FNLA,
320
00:21:57,582 --> 00:22:00,392
operated largely in the
north of the country.
321
00:22:00,452 --> 00:22:03,990
Its leader, Holden Roberto -
a strident anti-communist
322
00:22:04,056 --> 00:22:06,332
had close links with
neighboring Zaire,
323
00:22:06,391 --> 00:22:10,100
which supplied him with
outdated American arms.
324
00:22:16,668 --> 00:22:19,842
The National Union for the
Total Independence of Angola,
325
00:22:19,905 --> 00:22:23,910
UNITA, led by Jonas Savimbi, was
based in the south of Angola.
326
00:22:25,977 --> 00:22:27,820
A charismatic leader,
Savimbi
327
00:22:27,879 --> 00:22:31,417
decided that American backing
was the key to power.
328
00:22:36,655 --> 00:22:38,760
At Alvor in Portugal,
329
00:22:38,824 --> 00:22:41,566
the three rival groups got
together.
330
00:22:41,626 --> 00:22:44,300
They agreed on arrangements for
independence and elections.
331
00:22:46,965 --> 00:22:49,639
JOHN STOCKWELL: The United
States scotched that absolutely.
332
00:22:52,070 --> 00:22:54,050
Our solution was the CIA,
333
00:22:54,106 --> 00:22:57,952
without approval from the
National Security Council,
334
00:22:58,009 --> 00:23:00,011
delivered $300,000 to
Holden Roberto, and...
335
00:23:03,715 --> 00:23:08,095
and ordered him to send his
people into Northern Angola.
336
00:23:11,156 --> 00:23:13,432
INTERPRETER: We weren't worried
about receiving American aid.
337
00:23:15,460 --> 00:23:16,768
We knew that the
Soviet Union was
338
00:23:16,828 --> 00:23:19,934
supporting the MPLA
and we had no possibility
339
00:23:19,998 --> 00:23:22,410
of countering that.
340
00:23:25,370 --> 00:23:27,350
NARRATION: Secretly
channelled through Zaire,
341
00:23:27,406 --> 00:23:31,980
American money helped pay for
Roberto's war on the MPLA.
342
00:23:35,380 --> 00:23:38,850
His side was always the
bloodiest, the most violent.
343
00:23:38,917 --> 00:23:42,387
They went down and
promptly killed 15 MPLA
344
00:23:42,454 --> 00:23:45,333
political activists,
and from that time on,
345
00:23:45,390 --> 00:23:46,232
it was all cast,
346
00:23:46,291 --> 00:23:47,929
you know the fate of
Angola was cast,
347
00:23:47,993 --> 00:23:49,597
it was written in blood.
348
00:23:55,500 --> 00:23:57,537
NARRATION: The Americans were
not sure that Roberto's troops
349
00:23:57,602 --> 00:24:00,412
could defeat the MPLA.
350
00:24:00,472 --> 00:24:02,645
The Central Intelligence Agency
sent John Stockwell
351
00:24:02,707 --> 00:24:05,278
to investigate.
352
00:24:05,343 --> 00:24:08,222
JOHN STOCKWELL:
Roberto said he had 30,000.
353
00:24:08,280 --> 00:24:10,157
I had trouble counting 30.
354
00:24:10,215 --> 00:24:13,219
Badly armed, disorganized,
kind of rabble kind of troops.
355
00:24:16,721 --> 00:24:18,758
And he was a cocktail
party cowboy.
356
00:24:18,824 --> 00:24:21,828
He'd spent his whole career
politicking in Kinshasa.
357
00:24:21,893 --> 00:24:24,806
He knew nothing of military
operations or logistics
358
00:24:24,863 --> 00:24:26,274
or organization.
359
00:24:30,001 --> 00:24:33,448
NARRATION: Stockwell went south
to UNITA's headquarters.
360
00:24:40,579 --> 00:24:44,152
Stockwell met UNITA's leader,
Jonas Savimbi.
361
00:24:44,216 --> 00:24:47,663
JOHN STOCKWELL:
I found a different kind of a revolutionary.
362
00:24:47,719 --> 00:24:51,792
He'd spent the entire
time inside Angola - 20 years.
363
00:24:51,857 --> 00:24:55,270
He had led the guerrilla
fighting himself.
364
00:24:55,327 --> 00:24:58,536
Whatever the
consequences,
365
00:24:58,597 --> 00:25:00,804
whatever the results we
will continue to fight
366
00:25:00,866 --> 00:25:04,336
because we don't want to
be slaves of Russia
367
00:25:04,402 --> 00:25:07,576
in Angola,
in our own country.
368
00:25:07,639 --> 00:25:09,448
NARRATION: America was
now backing two of
369
00:25:09,508 --> 00:25:10,851
the three
independence movements.
370
00:25:17,082 --> 00:25:18,618
Washington ruled
out intervention
371
00:25:18,683 --> 00:25:20,720
in Angola with
American troops -
372
00:25:20,785 --> 00:25:23,163
instead it turned,
secretly,
373
00:25:23,221 --> 00:25:26,134
to South Africa.
374
00:25:26,191 --> 00:25:28,000
The United States,
at the highest level,
375
00:25:28,059 --> 00:25:30,471
requested assistance,
376
00:25:30,529 --> 00:25:33,601
or rather requests
South Africa to go in
377
00:25:33,665 --> 00:25:35,167
and assist UNITA.
378
00:25:35,233 --> 00:25:37,577
We did maintain
a position of
379
00:25:39,804 --> 00:25:41,477
of disapproval
of apartheid.
380
00:25:44,476 --> 00:25:45,784
But on the other hand,
381
00:25:45,844 --> 00:25:48,188
the South African Government
was extremely powerful.
382
00:25:51,149 --> 00:25:53,561
[ Speaking Afrikaans ]
383
00:25:53,618 --> 00:25:55,962
South Africa was isolated.
384
00:25:56,021 --> 00:25:59,093
Although it was done secretly,
it was good for South Africa
385
00:25:59,157 --> 00:26:03,833
to be co operating with
a big force like the USA,
386
00:26:03,895 --> 00:26:07,308
even though
it was clandestine.
387
00:26:07,365 --> 00:26:10,039
There were many people
in policy-making
388
00:26:10,101 --> 00:26:11,842
positions in the
Department of State
389
00:26:11,903 --> 00:26:13,576
who were essentially
willing to...
390
00:26:17,742 --> 00:26:20,222
to have a funny,
391
00:26:20,278 --> 00:26:21,951
ambiguous relationship
with South Africa.
392
00:26:25,050 --> 00:26:28,224
The focus was on
Soviet penetration
393
00:26:28,286 --> 00:26:32,701
and the possibility of the
Soviet Union using unstable
394
00:26:32,757 --> 00:26:36,432
situations in Africa
to benefit itself,
395
00:26:36,494 --> 00:26:39,065
to take root and
foment trouble.
396
00:26:39,130 --> 00:26:41,906
[speaking Portuguese]
397
00:26:41,967 --> 00:26:44,743
They were afraid
of the MPLA.
398
00:26:44,803 --> 00:26:46,476
They called us communists.
399
00:26:48,707 --> 00:26:52,018
The South Africans were
terrified of the MPLA.
400
00:26:52,077 --> 00:26:55,422
They didn't have that terror
of the FNLA or UNITA;
401
00:26:55,480 --> 00:26:56,481
they were allies.
402
00:26:58,617 --> 00:27:01,564
They didn't like the MPLA
because the MPLA declared
403
00:27:01,620 --> 00:27:03,861
itself against apartheid.
404
00:27:10,228 --> 00:27:13,266
NARRATION:
In Luanda, the MPLA was staging parades.
405
00:27:13,331 --> 00:27:17,438
In the countryside it
was losing control.
406
00:27:17,502 --> 00:27:19,504
[speaking Portuguese]
407
00:27:19,571 --> 00:27:21,676
We were alone,
poorly equipped,
408
00:27:21,740 --> 00:27:24,914
poorly trained,
poorly armed.
409
00:27:24,976 --> 00:27:27,582
We requested help from
the Cubans to help
410
00:27:27,646 --> 00:27:28,989
us resist that aggression.
411
00:27:33,718 --> 00:27:36,062
NARRATION: Keen to show leadership
in the Developing World,
412
00:27:36,121 --> 00:27:40,365
Cuba sent 400 military
instructors to Luanda.
413
00:27:40,425 --> 00:27:42,462
Moscow hadn't
been consulted.
414
00:27:48,933 --> 00:27:50,606
[ Speaking Spanish ]
415
00:27:52,737 --> 00:27:55,411
The Soviets knew
absolutely nothing about it.
416
00:27:57,876 --> 00:27:59,355
We took the decision
because of our long
417
00:27:59,411 --> 00:28:03,484
standing relations over
many years with Neto,
418
00:28:03,548 --> 00:28:05,892
and with the independence
movement in Angola.
419
00:28:08,219 --> 00:28:09,892
We were very unhappy.
420
00:28:12,257 --> 00:28:14,203
I mean, obviously we...
421
00:28:14,259 --> 00:28:18,401
we had no desire to see
Fidel Castro extend his...
422
00:28:18,463 --> 00:28:21,933
his influence in
the African continent.
423
00:28:22,000 --> 00:28:25,538
Our government in Washington
perceived Fidel Castro
424
00:28:25,603 --> 00:28:26,946
as a Soviet proxy.
425
00:28:29,107 --> 00:28:31,178
We thought with
respect to Angola,
426
00:28:31,242 --> 00:28:35,384
that if the Soviet Union could
intervene at such distances
427
00:28:35,447 --> 00:28:38,985
from areas that were far
from the traditional Russian
428
00:28:39,050 --> 00:28:39,892
security concerns,
429
00:28:42,287 --> 00:28:45,427
and when Cuban forces
could be introduced
430
00:28:45,490 --> 00:28:47,629
into distant
trouble spots,
431
00:28:47,692 --> 00:28:50,366
and if the West could not
find a counter to that,
432
00:28:50,428 --> 00:28:53,807
that then the whole
international system
433
00:28:53,865 --> 00:28:56,311
could be destabilized.
434
00:28:56,367 --> 00:28:57,971
[ Speaking Spanish ]
435
00:28:58,036 --> 00:29:00,448
It was a question of
globalizing our struggle,
436
00:29:00,505 --> 00:29:02,416
vis-a-vis the
globalized pressures
437
00:29:02,474 --> 00:29:05,546
and harassment of the US.
438
00:29:05,610 --> 00:29:07,590
In this respect he
did not coincide with
439
00:29:07,645 --> 00:29:10,148
the Soviet viewpoint.
440
00:29:12,283 --> 00:29:14,285
We acted... but
without their co-operation.
441
00:29:22,293 --> 00:29:23,931
Quite the opposite!
442
00:29:23,995 --> 00:29:27,101
There were criticisms. So?
443
00:29:30,769 --> 00:29:31,679
NARRATION:
North of Luanda,
444
00:29:31,736 --> 00:29:34,740
Holden Roberto's FNLA troops
were heading for the capital.
445
00:29:36,808 --> 00:29:40,722
They wanted to seize it before
Angola's Independence Day.
446
00:29:40,779 --> 00:29:42,986
They had high
hopes of success.
447
00:29:46,251 --> 00:29:48,390
We actually had a
celebration party
448
00:29:48,453 --> 00:29:50,763
in the CIA headquarters
in Washington.
449
00:29:50,822 --> 00:29:53,166
We expected the news
by the end of the day
450
00:29:53,224 --> 00:29:56,171
that we would have
captured Luanda.
451
00:29:59,731 --> 00:30:01,005
NARRATION:
Led by Cubans -
452
00:30:01,065 --> 00:30:03,067
the MPLA troops
halted Roberto's advance.
453
00:30:10,842 --> 00:30:14,688
JOHN STOCKWELL: In the middle
of the valley about 2000122 mm
454
00:30:14,746 --> 00:30:17,590
rockets began landing,
455
00:30:17,649 --> 00:30:20,152
and we had nothing
to answer with,
456
00:30:20,218 --> 00:30:22,425
and our forces
broke and ran.
457
00:30:25,223 --> 00:30:28,727
NARRATION: The military force
of the FNLA had been blunted-
458
00:30:28,793 --> 00:30:30,466
America's ally
was in trouble.
459
00:30:34,799 --> 00:30:37,837
A bigger challenge
now faced the MPLA.
460
00:30:40,805 --> 00:30:43,809
In October 1975, South African
troops had invaded Angola.
461
00:30:46,211 --> 00:30:51,183
From their bases in Namibia they
had joined forces with UNITA.
462
00:30:51,249 --> 00:30:52,956
COL. JAN BREYTENBACH: We
advanced approximately, I think,
463
00:30:53,017 --> 00:30:55,497
something like
80 kilometers a day.
464
00:30:55,553 --> 00:30:57,260
By this time my
troops were getting good
465
00:30:57,322 --> 00:30:59,324
I mean, they were really
getting on with it now -
466
00:30:59,390 --> 00:31:01,734
they were out of those
vehicles and into...
467
00:31:01,793 --> 00:31:03,238
into assault formations.
468
00:31:03,294 --> 00:31:04,568
We'd shoot the hell out
of these people, you see,
469
00:31:04,629 --> 00:31:06,404
and then they would
pack up and move,
470
00:31:06,464 --> 00:31:08,535
because they
didn't expect us.
471
00:31:08,600 --> 00:31:09,442
[speaking Portuguese]
472
00:31:12,170 --> 00:31:14,172
The South Africans
were helping UNITA
473
00:31:14,239 --> 00:31:16,583
and Zaire was
supporting the FNLA.
474
00:31:18,943 --> 00:31:21,947
So it was only fair that the
MPLA asked the Cubans to come
475
00:31:22,013 --> 00:31:25,825
and support us in the
struggle against the invasions.
476
00:31:32,824 --> 00:31:35,065
NARRATION: Just two days
before independence,
477
00:31:35,126 --> 00:31:36,833
thousands of Cuban
combat troops
478
00:31:36,895 --> 00:31:38,238
began arriving in Luanda.
479
00:31:40,365 --> 00:31:43,209
KAREN BRUTENTS:
[speaking Russian ]
480
00:31:43,268 --> 00:31:45,612
INTERPRETER: In Moscow this was
greeted without enthusiasm.
481
00:31:47,639 --> 00:31:52,088
It was only when the Cubans
had landed that we got involved.
482
00:31:52,143 --> 00:31:54,885
Because the Cubans
kept asking us for help.
483
00:31:54,946 --> 00:31:56,118
They wanted weapons;
484
00:31:56,180 --> 00:31:58,922
they wanted food supplies.
485
00:31:58,983 --> 00:32:01,293
Once we started sending
things to Angola -
486
00:32:01,352 --> 00:32:03,696
we were soon
in over our heads-
487
00:32:03,755 --> 00:32:07,669
even though it wasn't in
our plans to go there.
488
00:32:07,725 --> 00:32:10,638
[ship's horn]
489
00:32:13,064 --> 00:32:16,011
NARRATION: Moscow began shipping
hundreds of tons of arms,
490
00:32:16,067 --> 00:32:19,708
tanks and missiles
direct to Luanda.
491
00:32:30,315 --> 00:32:33,592
As the MPLA began rehearsals
for Independence Day,
492
00:32:33,651 --> 00:32:36,655
battles were still raging
just miles from the capital.
493
00:32:40,959 --> 00:32:41,801
[speaking Portuguese]
494
00:32:41,859 --> 00:32:42,735
In spite of that,
495
00:32:42,794 --> 00:32:45,400
it was important for us
to proclaim independence-
496
00:32:45,463 --> 00:32:47,443
and we did so.
497
00:32:56,441 --> 00:32:59,115
NARRATION: The MPLA celebrated
Angola's independence in Luanda.
498
00:33:02,213 --> 00:33:06,161
Its enemies had failed
to take the capital.
499
00:33:06,217 --> 00:33:07,059
[speaking Portuguese]
500
00:33:09,253 --> 00:33:14,202
The 11th November 1975 was
the hardest day in my life.
501
00:33:14,258 --> 00:33:18,707
I remembered the 14 years
I'd been fighting;
502
00:33:18,763 --> 00:33:20,470
I remembered the dead,
503
00:33:20,531 --> 00:33:24,536
all those who had
made sacrifices.
504
00:33:24,602 --> 00:33:27,139
[announcement]
505
00:33:29,340 --> 00:33:32,844
NARRATION: Agostinho Neto
greets the Soviet ambassador.
506
00:33:32,910 --> 00:33:35,186
The MPLA was recognized
as Angola's government
507
00:33:35,246 --> 00:33:37,089
by the Soviet Union,
508
00:33:37,148 --> 00:33:39,355
Cuba and most of Africa.
509
00:33:42,020 --> 00:33:46,435
Its fight against South African
troops gave the MPLA
510
00:33:46,491 --> 00:33:49,404
political credibility.
511
00:33:51,696 --> 00:33:54,108
South of Luanda the Cubans
prepared to end
512
00:33:54,165 --> 00:33:56,839
the South African advance.
513
00:33:59,270 --> 00:34:00,840
RENE HERNANDEZ:
[speaking Spanish]
514
00:34:00,905 --> 00:34:02,612
It was a decisive battle
515
00:34:02,673 --> 00:34:04,311
because if they
broke our defense
516
00:34:04,375 --> 00:34:09,188
it would be very difficult then
to stop them getting to Luanda.
517
00:34:09,247 --> 00:34:11,090
There were roads
going to the north,
518
00:34:11,149 --> 00:34:13,527
roads going
to the centre -
519
00:34:13,584 --> 00:34:16,724
many roads, which would
have made their advance
520
00:34:16,788 --> 00:34:19,632
very powerful and fast.
521
00:34:23,194 --> 00:34:25,401
[ Radio message ]
522
00:34:25,463 --> 00:34:27,465
NARRATION: The Cubans
were ready waiting.
523
00:34:30,068 --> 00:34:32,173
FIDEL CASTRO:
[speaking Spanish]
524
00:34:32,236 --> 00:34:34,273
Angola would have been lost.
525
00:34:34,338 --> 00:34:38,115
Mobutu's troops
were close to Ruanda.
526
00:34:38,176 --> 00:34:39,484
The South Africans
had penetrated
527
00:34:39,544 --> 00:34:41,217
over a thousand kilometers -
528
00:34:41,279 --> 00:34:43,850
they were close to Ruanda.
529
00:34:43,915 --> 00:34:48,921
[mortar & cannon fire]
530
00:34:56,227 --> 00:35:00,767
NARRATION: The Cuban and MPLA forces
out-gunned the South Africans.
531
00:35:05,436 --> 00:35:07,143
COL.JAN BREYTENBACH:
They were shot up very badly.
532
00:35:07,205 --> 00:35:10,516
I just saw these lorries with
blood dripping out of it,
533
00:35:10,575 --> 00:35:12,714
and it wasn't
very nice to...
534
00:35:12,777 --> 00:35:14,814
And then to go
and investigate,
535
00:35:14,879 --> 00:35:16,324
and for the first time
you see that actually
536
00:35:16,380 --> 00:35:19,725
your own troops are...
it wasn't very nice at all.
537
00:35:21,853 --> 00:35:23,628
[speaking Portuguese]
538
00:35:23,688 --> 00:35:27,033
They left everything oh the field:
men, vehicles, weapons.
539
00:35:27,091 --> 00:35:30,231
It was a great victory
over the South Africans.
540
00:35:33,731 --> 00:35:35,233
NARRATION:
South African and American hopes
541
00:35:35,299 --> 00:35:38,906
of a quick victory
over the MPLA were crushed.
542
00:35:38,970 --> 00:35:41,712
Washington was
running out of options.
543
00:35:41,772 --> 00:35:44,582
Right after Vietnam the
American people in no way,
544
00:35:44,642 --> 00:35:47,384
and the Congress and
the media would put up
545
00:35:47,445 --> 00:35:51,587
with the US putting its
forces in to control the outcome
546
00:35:51,649 --> 00:35:53,094
of a country that
none of us,
547
00:35:53,151 --> 00:35:56,064
none of the American
people were interested in.
548
00:35:58,656 --> 00:36:02,194
The administration
fell back on the CIA.
549
00:36:02,260 --> 00:36:04,467
It secretly provided
money for Roberto
550
00:36:04,529 --> 00:36:07,203
and Savimbi to recruit
mercenaries from Africa,
551
00:36:07,265 --> 00:36:10,007
America and Europe.
552
00:36:24,015 --> 00:36:27,690
We did kill when we had
no particular reason to.
553
00:36:29,921 --> 00:36:34,392
We tortured to achieve
information that they
554
00:36:34,458 --> 00:36:35,630
probably didn't have,
555
00:36:35,693 --> 00:36:38,037
and this was not
captured enemy soldiers:
556
00:36:40,364 --> 00:36:42,366
these were probably
just local civilians.
557
00:36:45,069 --> 00:36:47,071
And that atmosphere
permeated its way
558
00:36:49,407 --> 00:36:54,186
through the whole unit...
we were just a loose band
559
00:36:54,245 --> 00:36:57,920
of bandits with a very dangerous
leader and a few associates.
560
00:37:02,286 --> 00:37:04,789
[speaking Portuguese]
561
00:37:04,855 --> 00:37:09,770
Among the mercenaries, there
were some very fine soldiers.
562
00:37:09,827 --> 00:37:11,636
Callao, for instance -
563
00:37:11,696 --> 00:37:14,108
I've seldom seen such a good soldier.
564
00:37:14,165 --> 00:37:15,508
He had phenomenal courage.
565
00:37:18,336 --> 00:37:21,408
He was a psychopath,
a raving psychopath
566
00:37:21,472 --> 00:37:26,114
and a couple of men right
near him were psychopaths.
567
00:37:26,177 --> 00:37:28,919
NARRATION: Thirteen mercenaries
were captured by the MPLA
568
00:37:28,980 --> 00:37:31,483
and put on trial.
569
00:37:31,549 --> 00:37:33,551
Callao and three others
were executed.
570
00:37:36,187 --> 00:37:39,327
The CIA was still active.
571
00:37:39,390 --> 00:37:42,166
The Congress would have
stopped us up front if we had
572
00:37:42,226 --> 00:37:44,035
not successfully lied to them,
573
00:37:44,095 --> 00:37:45,904
putting in
putting in arms,
574
00:37:45,963 --> 00:37:48,967
putting in advisers,
bringing in South Africa.
575
00:37:49,033 --> 00:37:51,604
We kept it propped
up for a while,
576
00:37:51,669 --> 00:37:53,012
but opposition was mounting.
577
00:37:57,408 --> 00:37:59,615
NARRATION:
Still shocked by events in Vietnam,
578
00:37:59,677 --> 00:38:05,559
the Congress out off
additional CIA funds for Angola.
579
00:38:05,616 --> 00:38:09,063
This abdication of
responsibility by a majority
580
00:38:09,120 --> 00:38:12,829
of the Senate will have
the gravest consequences
581
00:38:12,890 --> 00:38:16,099
for the long-term position
of the United States
582
00:38:16,160 --> 00:38:19,903
and for international
order in general;
583
00:38:19,964 --> 00:38:23,912
a great nation cannot escape
its responsibilities.
584
00:38:29,940 --> 00:38:33,046
NARRATION: In Angola,
America hoped for victory.
585
00:38:33,110 --> 00:38:36,057
Instead hatreds
were inflamed.
586
00:38:36,113 --> 00:38:39,219
The civil war outlasted
the Cold War itself,
587
00:38:39,283 --> 00:38:41,160
leaving thousands maimed,
588
00:38:41,218 --> 00:38:44,529
dead or homeless.
589
00:38:48,059 --> 00:38:50,266
[ Chanting ]
590
00:38:50,328 --> 00:38:53,400
NARRATION:
In 1977 the great powers' attention shifted
591
00:38:53,464 --> 00:38:56,001
to the Horn of Africa.
592
00:38:56,067 --> 00:38:59,048
As regimes changed,
so did alliances -
593
00:38:59,103 --> 00:39:02,778
the Soviet Union and the United
States switched sides easily.
594
00:39:09,413 --> 00:39:11,586
In Ethiopia the emperor
had been ousted
595
00:39:11,649 --> 00:39:13,651
and replaced by Marxists.
596
00:39:16,921 --> 00:39:19,925
Moscow had a new ally:
Colonel Mengistu Haile Mariam.
597
00:39:24,395 --> 00:39:25,931
[speaking Ethiopian ]
598
00:39:31,702 --> 00:39:34,706
When the Soviets moved
into Ethiopia to assist
599
00:39:39,977 --> 00:39:41,820
the communist dictator there,
600
00:39:41,879 --> 00:39:42,880
Haile Mariam Mengistu,
601
00:39:45,182 --> 00:39:49,528
I thought that this was a threat
to the stability of Africa.
602
00:39:49,587 --> 00:39:53,194
The Soviets at that time were
proclaiming over and over again
603
00:39:53,257 --> 00:39:55,635
that the scales of history were
tipping in the favor of the
604
00:39:55,693 --> 00:39:57,263
Soviet Union.
605
00:39:57,328 --> 00:40:01,333
The Soviet Union would outstrip
us in economic performance;
606
00:40:01,399 --> 00:40:04,209
the Soviet Union was
getting a strategic edge;
607
00:40:04,268 --> 00:40:06,544
the Soviet Union was
riding the crest of
608
00:40:06,604 --> 00:40:09,210
the so-called National
Liberation struggles.
609
00:40:09,273 --> 00:40:11,583
[ Chants ]
610
00:40:11,642 --> 00:40:15,317
NARRATION: The new regime in
Ethiopia turned against America.
611
00:40:21,385 --> 00:40:24,389
Mengistu expelled most of
the Americans from Ethiopia
612
00:40:26,857 --> 00:40:28,928
in the following months,
613
00:40:28,993 --> 00:40:30,995
arrogantly terminated the
American aid program.
614
00:40:35,766 --> 00:40:40,374
NARRATION: Neighboring Somalia had
been a Soviet ally for years.
615
00:40:40,438 --> 00:40:43,578
Somalia's army was equipped
with Soviet weapons.
616
00:40:48,879 --> 00:40:51,758
But now that Moscow was
also linked with Ethiopia,
617
00:40:51,816 --> 00:40:56,993
the Somalis considered
turning to Washington.
618
00:40:57,054 --> 00:41:02,299
PAUL HENZE: They had very little chance
of getting American full support.
619
00:41:02,359 --> 00:41:06,899
But they knew that if they
tried to present themselves as
620
00:41:06,964 --> 00:41:10,002
anti-Soviet they would
improve their chances.
621
00:41:12,102 --> 00:41:15,311
NARRATION: The Somalis turned against
the advice of their Soviet ally
622
00:41:15,372 --> 00:41:18,353
and prepared for
war with Ethiopia.
623
00:41:20,711 --> 00:41:24,056
But President Carter turned down
their appeal for American arms.
624
00:41:26,417 --> 00:41:27,760
I thought that ...that
625
00:41:31,121 --> 00:41:33,328
Somalia should not be
permitted to succeed
626
00:41:33,390 --> 00:41:36,462
in trying to take
Ethiopian territory,
627
00:41:36,527 --> 00:41:40,600
and I refused to give the
Somali government any weapons.
628
00:41:40,664 --> 00:41:43,144
NARRATION:
Nevertheless, in July 1977,
629
00:41:43,200 --> 00:41:46,204
the Somalis seized large
tracts of the Ogaden desert.
630
00:41:48,272 --> 00:41:52,379
The Soviets tried to stop the
advance through diplomacy.
631
00:41:52,443 --> 00:41:53,444
[speaking Russian ]
632
00:41:55,980 --> 00:41:58,654
Gromyko suggested joint
mediation with the Americans,
633
00:42:01,385 --> 00:42:04,298
but Brzezinski
rejected that,
634
00:42:04,355 --> 00:42:05,800
saying it would
have legitimized the
635
00:42:05,856 --> 00:42:09,235
Soviet presence in
the Horn of Africa.
636
00:42:09,293 --> 00:42:11,204
Brzezinski felt that
the American presence
637
00:42:11,262 --> 00:42:13,799
was legitimate everywhere,
638
00:42:13,864 --> 00:42:16,435
but the Soviet
presence wasn't.
639
00:42:21,705 --> 00:42:24,379
NARRATION: Anti-Soviet demonstrations
in Somalia greeted the
640
00:42:24,441 --> 00:42:26,887
government's decision to
send the Russian advisers
641
00:42:26,944 --> 00:42:28,946
and their families
back to Moscow.
642
00:42:31,615 --> 00:42:35,427
All Soviet support was
now switched to Ethiopia.
643
00:42:44,128 --> 00:42:46,130
The Soviet Union began
shipping in weapons
644
00:42:46,196 --> 00:42:48,540
and 15,000 troops
to fight in Ethiopia.
645
00:42:50,701 --> 00:42:52,772
The troops were Cuban.
646
00:42:52,836 --> 00:42:56,306
[mortar fire]
647
00:43:05,916 --> 00:43:07,190
[ Speaking Spanish ]
648
00:43:07,251 --> 00:43:09,595
It was the only operation
we conducted in full agreement
649
00:43:09,653 --> 00:43:12,827
with the Soviets.
650
00:43:12,890 --> 00:43:14,528
No such co-operation
took place,
651
00:43:14,592 --> 00:43:16,970
even in Latin America.
652
00:43:17,027 --> 00:43:19,439
Quite the opposite!
653
00:43:27,338 --> 00:43:29,818
PETR CHAPLYGIN:
[speaking Russian ]
654
00:43:29,873 --> 00:43:33,548
The Cuban troops in Ethiopia
played a very important role.
655
00:43:37,448 --> 00:43:39,758
The Ethiopians couldn't have
provided the military
656
00:43:39,817 --> 00:43:42,297
organization to destroy the
Somali troops in such a
657
00:43:42,353 --> 00:43:47,598
short period of time,
even with our help.
658
00:43:52,329 --> 00:43:55,640
NARRATION: With Cuban troops and
Soviet support the Ethiopians
659
00:43:55,699 --> 00:43:59,772
drove the Somalis
out of the Ogaden.
660
00:43:59,837 --> 00:44:04,115
But Moscow wouldn't let the
troops advance into Somalia.
661
00:44:04,174 --> 00:44:05,881
PETR CHAPLYGIN:
[speaking Russian ]
662
00:44:05,943 --> 00:44:06,944
Among the Soviet military,
663
00:44:07,011 --> 00:44:10,481
we thought about
occupying Somalia.
664
00:44:10,547 --> 00:44:12,754
But the Soviet government
was right not to allow this,
665
00:44:12,816 --> 00:44:15,626
because it would have made
our relations with countries
666
00:44:15,686 --> 00:44:17,597
like the
United States of America,
667
00:44:17,655 --> 00:44:19,657
Great Britain and
others more difficult.
668
00:44:21,859 --> 00:44:22,701
[ Chants ]
669
00:44:25,763 --> 00:44:29,006
NARRATION:
Mengistu Haile Mariam basked in glory.
670
00:44:29,066 --> 00:44:32,639
The Cubans and Soviets
had saved his regime.
671
00:44:38,509 --> 00:44:39,510
In Washington,
672
00:44:39,576 --> 00:44:41,613
some saw the victory
as proof that
673
00:44:41,679 --> 00:44:43,352
the Soviets were
abusing détente.
674
00:44:46,617 --> 00:44:49,359
The Home of Africa was
not important to America
675
00:44:49,420 --> 00:44:54,096
as of itself, but it was
important as a measure
676
00:44:54,158 --> 00:44:58,436
and a test of how the Soviets
were interpreting détente.
677
00:44:58,495 --> 00:45:00,475
[speaking Russian ]
678
00:45:00,531 --> 00:45:02,533
Quarrels about the Third World
679
00:45:02,599 --> 00:45:05,546
were getting blown
out of all proportion.
680
00:45:05,602 --> 00:45:08,276
These disputes about Africa,
Angola, Ethiopia and Somalia -
681
00:45:14,712 --> 00:45:16,988
none of them
were worth it.
682
00:45:17,047 --> 00:45:22,622
Twenty years later, no-one even
remembers who was doing what.
683
00:45:29,093 --> 00:45:31,471
NARRATION:
In the hunt for Cold War gains,
684
00:45:31,528 --> 00:45:35,203
the super powers spawned an arms
race in the Developing World.
685
00:45:37,267 --> 00:45:39,907
Their solemn promises
of restraint
686
00:45:39,970 --> 00:45:44,112
were blown to the winds.
687
00:45:49,083 --> 00:45:53,183
Subtitles ripped and converted by
Juan Claudio Epsteyn
688
00:45:54,470 --> 00:45:58,575
E-mail:
epsteyn@hotmail.com