The document summarizes several proxy wars between communist and democratic nations during the Cold War era. It describes conflicts in Greece, Korea, Cuba, Vietnam, Chile, Afghanistan, and Angola where opposing superpowers backed third parties against one another. These proxy wars increased tensions between the US and Soviet Union as they competed for geopolitical influence around the world in the latter half of the 20th century during the Cold War.

1. A war that results when opposing powers
use third parties as substitutes for fighting
each other directly.
By
Sam Fath

2. The Greek Civil War was fought from 1946 to
1949 between the Democrats of Greece,
backed by the United Kingdom and United
States. And the communists, backed by the
Soviet Union. The initial efforts of the DSE
were highly successful due to the superior
tactics that they employed on the battlefield,
the KKE also made numerous political errors,
causing the Yugoslavians to withdraw. Once
the Yugoslavins gained independence and
the side that Americans supported in the war
won the war the Democratic sphere of
influence increased. Tensions were also
increased between the Soviet Union and the
Democratic nations

3. The Korean war was a Civil War between the Republic of Korea, supported by the
United Nations, and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea who were supported
by the People's Republic of China, with air support from the Soviet Union. The war
started when North Korea invaded South Korea without warning, the back and forth
conflict was characterized when the North pushed the south back, who then gained
the support of the US. With this support they were able to push the North back,
however due to Soviet and Chinese aid the north was able to create a stalemate. Due
to the conflict between the Soviets and American’s tensions were greatly increased,
however due to the stalemate neither side had a greater sphere of influence.

4. On April 17–19, 1961, Cuban Exiles,
trained by the United States Of
America, invaded the coast of Cuba,
who were supported by the Soviet
Union. The exiles however, due to
poor training and management were
easily repelled. The Russians saw
this invasion as a direct threat
towards Russia, increasing tension
between the US and Russians. The
Cuban leader Fidel Castro also
gained fame and recognition for
repelling the forces.

5. This war was fought between the North Vietnamese, supported by the communists
and Soviet Union. And the South Vietnamese people, supported by the anti-
communist nations such as the Americans. However due to the lack of public-support
for the war and staggering losses the U.S withdrew.
Due to this the U.S sphere of influence decreased, with the Soviet union gaining
influence from the win. This increasing
Soviet influence made the relationship
between the US and Soviet Union more
tense.

6. On the 11th Of September 1973,
the democratically elected
Marxist President of Chile,
Salvador Allenden who was
supported by the communist
nations. Was overthrown in a
Chilean Millitary coup d’etat.
The American government
attempted to covertly sway the
election process away from a
communistic government, and
once one was elected these
covert operations worked to
destabilize the government and
have a more US approved
government elected in place.
Due to the lack of significant
involvement by the Soviet
Union, tensions were not
escalated between them, the
Soviet Union saw the Marxist
President as weak and did not
care if he was overthrown

7. The Soviet War in Afghanistan, involved the
Democratic Republic of Afghanistan,
supported by the Soviet Union. Against the
Mujahideen resistance, supported by the
United States and the United Kingdom. The
war escalated when 700 Soviet troops,
dressed in Afghan uniforms took control of
many major military and media buildings,
when the soviets began to suffer losses they
simply withdrew. The effects of the Soviet
Union controlling such an oil rich nation
increased tension between the Americans
and the Soviet. The US’s sphere of influence
grew as the world condemned the actions
taken by the Soviet Union.

8. When the Angolan nation gained independence from Portugal in 1975 a war erupted
between the communist MPLA and the UNITA, who had support from the United
States. There was heavy fighting between the two parties until 1991 when the Bicesse
Accords was reached. When the MPLA candidate won the presidential election
guerilla warfare erupted again. The war continued until Savimbi was killed in February
of 2002. The US’s sphere of influence grew due to the UNITA’s political power,
however tensions were decreasing at this time due to the high cost that the cold war
had created and the threat of mutually assured destruction.

9.  http://www.vietnampix.com/intro.htm
 http://www.answers.com/topic/soviet-war-in-afghanistan
 http://www.democracynow.org/2003/9/11/sept_11_1973_a_cia_backed
 http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,907929,00.html
 http://www.historycentral.com/Vietnam/Troop.html
 http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/august/29/newsid_3053000/3053107.
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