 Starting in the 1970s, the U.S. supported the National Liberation Front of Angola (FNLA) and then UNITA, insurgents opposing the ruling political party, the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola.When it was discovered that Communist Cuba had 30,000 troops in Angola, the Republican administration of President Ford attempted to counter them.This was thwarted by the Tunney/Clark amendment, passed by a Democratic congress forbidding any involvement.