15 February 1989 – The Soviet Union withdrew from Afghanistan after nine years of involvement in the civil war between rebel groups and the Soviet-backed Afghan government. Over 15,000 Soviet soldiers were killed in the fighting.
21 February 1972 - President Nixon arrived in China for meetings with Chairman Mao Tse-tung and Premier Chou En-lai.
21 February 1994 - CIA employee Aldrich Ames arrested on charges he spied for the Soviet Union from 1985 to 1991.