Reagan's Victory in the Cold War: Re: Steve and Jason,Let me begin this response with an apocrypha

» Anastasiya03 - Re: Steve and Jason,Let me begin this response with an apocrypha

Well, I think it's just a tiny bit ridiculous to say that because the Americans didn't think the Soviet Union was going to collapse it really wasn't going to. Americans categorically had and usually have no idea about Russia and all its inside politics. While the living conditions of most Russians in the 60's and 70's were good, and there were no political repressions, the USSR really was collapsing because too many people saw that the system was rotting away. With the first leader not raised under Stalinism (Gorbachev) came reforms, and because reforms were started stupidly on the political side rather than on the economy, the system collapsed into itself. Look at China -- they started with the econ and they're still standing very well. It was only the inability of Gorbachev to carry out proper reforms, and the pent-up hostility the people felt towards the regime that caused the collapse. Of course, the reason the republics broke off was because their "representatives" in Moscow suddenly saw an opportunity to become presidents of separate countries -- now look me in the eyes and tell me you won't have seized that opportunity. So they gathered at a dacha, Russian style, and declared Russia "independent." And everyone on this side rejoiced. Of course Americans would want to believe that they defeated the Empire of Evil. The fact is, if the people of Russia hadn't wanted the regime to end, they won't have let it. Come on, these are the people who defeated the Mongols, Napoleon and the Nazis, the people who carried out the first Socialist revolution in the world. Think they couldn't have held off another force? Oh yes they could have. Reagan had nothing to do with this, much as we would like for him to be the hero. Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

-- posted by Anastasiya03