Blowback S6 Episode 1 - "The Dead Myth"
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Sep 22, 2025 Dive into the tangled history of Angola, Cuba, and apartheid South Africa during the Cold War. Discover how Mandela's alliances with Castro played a pivotal role in challenging apartheid. Explore the shadowy world of mercenaries and the nuclear tensions that escalated fears globally. Delve into the story of Jonas Savimbi, whose complex legacy and brutal actions complicate Western narratives. Uncover the colonial roots that led to the fierce nationalism in Angola and the geopolitical chess game that ensued.
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Mandela's Realpolitik Of Allies
- Nelson Mandela defended friendships with Castro, Gaddafi, and Arafat as based on their support for anti-apartheid struggle.
- Mandela argued foreign relations depend on each country's attitude toward your liberation, not ideological purity.
Cuba Broke The Myth Of Invincibility
- Cuban military support in Angola helped undermine the perceived invincibility of South African apartheid forces.
- Mandela credited Cuban victories in Angola as the turning point that inspired South Africa's liberation movement.
Who The Mercenaries Really Were
- Many foreign mercenaries in 1970s Angola were poor, untrained men seeking pay and adventure.
- Reporters described them as unemployed bricklayers, assembly line workers, and misfits rather than seasoned soldiers.
