Assignment 3: History 105: America's Superpower and Cold War Concepts

This essay, prepared for History 105, explores America's role as a superpower from the Cold War era to the present, focusing on strategic concerns and confrontations. The essay examines two key examples: the Berlin Airlift during the Cold War and the First Persian Gulf War in the post-Cold War period. It analyzes the historical context, issues, strengths, and weaknesses associated with each confrontation. The author discusses the significance of the Berlin crisis, the Soviet Union's dominance in Eastern Europe, and the United States' influence in the West. The essay also covers the post-Cold War dynamics, particularly the power dynamics related to Saddam Hussein and the UN coalition. The conclusion emphasizes the need for better international coordination to prevent future discrepancies, drawing on instances from both the Cold War and post-Cold War periods. The paper utilizes multiple sources to support its arguments and provides a comprehensive analysis of America's international superpower role.

Running Head: COLD WAR CONCEPTS OF EDNA TAYLOR
Cold War Concepts of EDNA TAYLOR
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author Note:

1COLD WAR CONCEPTS OF EDNA TAYLOR
Introduction
With the introduction of new administration of the U.S president J. F. Kennedy in 1961,
the situation of the Berlin heated up. Following it, at the summit of Vietnam that took place in
the year 1961, Khrushchev restated his threat that in the agreement of Berlin was not fulfilled by
the month of December, the Soviet Union would settle down with East Germany by signing a
separate treaty (Robins, 2015).
The other core area which is related to cold war confrontation is based on Berlin Airlift,
the first major area associated with the system of confrontation between west and east during the
period of cold war ( Bush, 1991). Post-cold war confrontation related to first Persian Gulf war
during the year was related to Iraq where they invaded Kuwait to their southeast in bid to gain
control over the part of profitable oil supply associated with the middle east region.
History and Issues
As per their concern, J.F. Kennedy made it clear that Berlin was recognized as the
supreme strategic importance to the United States provided with the fact that the access into the
city had to be flexible and free. The difficulties in confrontation is identified when the East
German refugees were flocking into the arena of West Berlin every day. As per the American
officials, it is estimated that over 1000 refugees checked in that resulted further a major crisis,
economically as well as demographically. Overnight, a barrier was built between East Berlin
which was the Soviet occupied sector and West Berlin. The United States in this situation did not
intervene as the Soviet Union was assessing its control over its division. The Berlin crisis was
identified through a new understanding between the Soviet Union and the United States. Further,
the Soviet Union would proceed to have dominance over its allies of Eastern Europe and East

2COLD WAR CONCEPTS OF EDNA TAYLOR
Berlin, whereas on the other hand, the United States and its allies would consider West Germany,
Western Europe and West Berlin within their paradigm of influence. Post cold war confrontation
of first gulf war, the power factor related to the Saddam Hussain was allowed to remain the same
in Iraq, though Iraq under all aspects was required for the part of submitting the search for
weapons which were related to mass destruction (Summer, 2015). President George bush under
this respective part has completely built an UN coalition in order to remove Iraq form the Kuwait
regions.
Comparison based on strength and weakness
During the post Cold war, the United States was standing firmly with victory resulting
the Soviet Union to be dissolved and thus the order of bipolar world had ended. The rules of
international laws during the post Cold war, have evolved and re-strengthened provided with
restating of the benefits and downfalls of the world functionalism, regionalism, federalism,
ecologism. The administration was revised and supported through global election. There are
certain weakness that has been witnessed, that is, the interventions in Iraq, Syria and Libya
stimulated the historical schisms that further resulted in he rapid loss of the capabilities of the
states leading to failed states.
Conclusion
The paper conclude through the instances of Post-cold war confrontation of first gulf war.
and UN coalition of removing Iraq form the Kuwait regions. In order to bring an adaptive control
towards this respective part the core initiative required to be adopted strategically can be to being
better coordination between the nations to prevent any discrepancies in the future.

3COLD WAR CONCEPTS OF EDNA TAYLOR
References
N. Robins-Early. March 7, 2015. Was the 2011 Libya Intervention a Mistake? Huffington Post.
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/libya-intervention-daalder_n_6809756
B. K. Musili. August 1, 2017. What is a Rogue State? WorldAtlas.
https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/what-is-a-rogue-state.html
George H. W. Bush. March 6, 1991. Address before a Joint Session of the Congress on the Cessation of
the Persian Gulf Conflict. http://college.cengage.com/history/wadsworth_9781133309888/
unprotected/ps/bushnwo.html
Kevin M. Schultz. 2018. HIST: Volume 2: U.S. History since 1865. 5th ed.
R. McNamara. July 3, 2019. Why Did the US Enter the Vietnam War?
https://www.thoughtco.com/why-did-us-enter-vietnam-war-195158

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