Blowback S6 Episode 5 - "Kicking the Dog"
Jan 12, 2026
Explore the tangled web of Angola's conflict, where Portuguese rule collapses amid multiple factions vying for power. Uncover the surprising role of foreign backers, including Cuba and the CIA, in shaping the war's outcome. Delve into the U.S. political scandal over covert aid and the legislative pushback that followed. Discover the tensions in Carter's administration regarding Africa and the Cuban military's impactful involvement. Join the hosts as they reveal the brutal realities of the Kasinga massacre and the complexities of international diplomacy.
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Mercenary Dream Ends In Execution
- Daniel F. Gerhardt answered a Soldier of Fortune ad and went to Angola as a mercenary despite being a decade out of the army.
- He was captured by Cuban forces, tried by the MPLA, and executed in July 1976, leaving his wife destitute.
Covert Aid Fueled Congressional Backlash
- The CIA covert Angola operation misled Congress through selective briefings and denials to hide its scale.
- This deception transformed Angola from a regional policy into a major domestic political scandal.
Carter's Moral Foreign Policy Pitch
- Jimmy Carter's 1976 campaign promised a moral, human-rights-centered foreign policy and attention to Southern Africa.
- Andrew Young shaped Carter's early African approach by linking U.S. civil rights to African anti-colonial struggles.