Editing Jonas Savimbi (section)

====Military and political efforts====
[[File:Savimbiparleur1.jpg|thumb|upright|Savimbi meets two [[Members of the European Parliament]] in 1989]]
Complementing his military skills, Savimbi also impressed many with his intellectual qualities. He spoke seven languages fluently including Portuguese, French, and English.<ref name="fpif.org">{{citation | url = http://fpif.org/jonas_savimbi_washingtons_freedom_fighter_africas_terrorist/ | title = Jonas Savimbi: Washingtons Freedom Fighter", Africa's "Terrorist" | publisher = Foreign Policy in Focus | first = Shana|last= Wills | date = 1 February 2002}}</ref> In visits to foreign diplomats and in speeches before American audiences, he often cited classical Western political and social philosophy, ultimately becoming one of the most vocal anti-communists of the [[Third World]].<ref name="allafrica.com">{{citation | url = http://allafrica.com/stories/200206250743.html?page=4 | title = Angola: Don't Simplify History, Says Savimbi's Biographer | newspaper = All Africa | location = [[Johannesburg]] | date = 22 June 2002 | url-status = live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070608090026/http://allafrica.com/stories/200206250743.html?page=4 | archive-date = 8 June 2007 | df = dmy-all }}.</ref>

Savimbi's biography describes him as "an incredible linguist. He spoke four European languages, including English although he had never lived in an English-speaking country. He was extremely well read. He was an extremely fine conversationalist and a very good listener."<ref name="allafrica.com"/> Savimbi also accused his political opponents of witchcraft.<ref name="Economist"/> These contrasting images of Savimbi would play out throughout his life, with his enemies calling him a power-hungry warmonger, and his American and other allies calling him a critical figure in the West's bid to win the Cold War.

As U.S. support began to flow liberally and leading U.S. conservatives championed his cause, Savimbi won major strategic advantages in the late 1980s, and again in the early 1990s, after having taken part unsuccessfully in the [[1992 Angolan general election|general elections of 1992]]. As a consequence, Moscow and [[Havana]] began to reevaluate their engagement in Angola, as Soviet and [[Cubans|Cuban]] fatalities mounted and Savimbi's ground control increased.<ref name=NYT>{{citation | url = https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950DE1DE123BF932A1575BC0A96F948260 | title = Angola says rebels are mounting new attacks, jeopardizing accord |first=Kenneth B. |last=Noble| newspaper = The New York Times | date = 21 August 1989}}.</ref>

By 1989, UNITA held total control of several limited areas, but was able to develop significant guerrilla operations everywhere in Angola, with the exception of the coastal cities and [[Namibe Province]]. At the height of his military success, in 1989 and 1990, Savimbi was beginning to launch attacks on government and military targets in and around the country's capital, [[Luanda]]. Observers felt that the strategic balance in Angola had shifted and that Savimbi was positioning UNITA for a possible military victory.<ref name = NYT />

Signaling the concern that the Soviet Union was placing on Savimbi's advance in Angola, Soviet leader [[Mikhail Gorbachev]] raised the Angolan war with Reagan during numerous U.S.-Soviet summits. In addition to meeting with Reagan, Savimbi also met with Reagan's successor, [[George H. W. Bush]], who promised Savimbi "all appropriate and effective assistance."<ref>{{citation | url = https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950DE5DC103EF931A25752C0A96F948260 | title = Bush pledges Angola rebel aid|first=David |last=Rampe | newspaper = The New York Times | date = January 1989}}</ref>