Communist Revolutionaries: When USSR Came Knocking On Reagan's Borders | M.A.D World | Timeline

The Cold War: When nuclear weapons kept the entire world on the edge of M.A.D. – Mutually Assured Destruction. As Russia, China and the USA flex their military muscles on the global stage today, ‘M.A.D. World’ takes a close look at the last time we were threatened by the might of world superpowers: The Cold War.

In this episode:

- The Caribbean island paradise of Grenada has a Marxist government and it’s just three and a half hours flight from Miami. When a violent coup installs an extremist leader, the USA moves swiftly. Overnight, they send in troops to invade the island and take over the government.

- The corrupt and brutal military dictatorship of Nicaragua is crushed by a national rebellion but the rebels are Marxist. The USA funds the counter-revolutionaries in a scandal that goes right to the top of the US Government.

- Ronald Reagan announces a new arms program that is so far from reality it is quickly dubbed ‘Star Wars’. The program aims to use a range of futuristic technology to build a laser defence system against nuclear attack. Many fear that if ever SDI becomes reality, it will upset the delicate balance of power of the Cold War.

- Gorbachev wants to stage a new revolution in Russia. He wants economic reform, greater freedom and an end to the Cold War. Talks begin with US President Reagan to begin destroying nuclear weapons and forge a renewed friendship between East and West.

- A new Russian Leader decides try and rescue the failing soviet economy. One of Mikhail Gorbachev’s first moves is to pull his troops out of Afghanistan. But the Mujahedeen do not sign the peace treaty and the Afghanistan war is far from over.