S6 Episode 8 - "Cut Off Their Hands"
Summary
This episode of Blowback examines the Reagan administration’s shift from diplomatic engagement to aggressive proxy warfare in Southern Africa, focusing on support for UNITA in Angola. It details the collapse of the Lusaka Accords and the repeal of the Clark Amendment, which enabled direct U.S. aid to Jonas Savimbi. The hosts explore the "Jamba Jamboree," a media event linking global anti-communist rebels, and analyze how rising anti-apartheid sentiment in the U.S. complicated Reagan’s constructive engagement policy.
Topics discussed
Introduction: Reagan's Cold War rhetoric and podcast welcome
Reagan's first term: Foreign policy, economy, and 1984 re-election
Reagan's military buildup and interventions in Grenada and Lebanon
Constructive engagement vs. rollback: The Angola-Namibia debate
South African sabotage in Angola and the rise of the anti-apartheid movement
Sponsor message: Quince
The Jamba Summit: Conservatives rally behind Jonas Savimbi
Repealing the Clark Amendment to aid UNITA rebels
Military stalemate: Cuban, Soviet, and South African involvement
Angola's economic collapse and humanitarian crisis
Savimbi's Washington lobbying and receipt of Stinger missiles
The Iran-Contra scandal breaks and implicates Angola aid
Aftermath: Reagan's admission, Southern Air Transport, and fallout
Conclusion: Sanctions on South Africa and the ongoing conflict
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