Wednesday, June 09, 2004
Did Reagan End the Cold War?
I would have to say yes. My friend Hwang argues that the Soviet Union fell due to its own problems.
While it is true the Soviet system had fundamental flaws (why would we be opposing communism if we didn't think it had economic flaws?), Reagan, and many others like Congressman Wilson, deserve credit in that era for applying pressure to make the Soviet Union fall. Many at the time were arguing that the Soviet Union had a superior economic system and many more argued that it would be around for the foreseeable future. Reagan saw those flaws and decided to ratchet up the pressure, instead of just letting communism expand into Central America, etc. Many at the time wanted to make accomodations with such an evil system. And that, to me, is the essense of Reagan's greatness on that issue.
The problem with these arguments is that you really need a time machine to determine how much of an effect Reagan really had.
Here is an issue that both the Democratic and Republican parties can join together and congratulate themselves. Truman, JFK, and Reagan are the three shining examples of anti-Communism. They all had the tenacity to stand up to that great evil. Accomodation is never a good plan.
I would have to say yes. My friend Hwang argues that the Soviet Union fell due to its own problems.
While it is true the Soviet system had fundamental flaws (why would we be opposing communism if we didn't think it had economic flaws?), Reagan, and many others like Congressman Wilson, deserve credit in that era for applying pressure to make the Soviet Union fall. Many at the time were arguing that the Soviet Union had a superior economic system and many more argued that it would be around for the foreseeable future. Reagan saw those flaws and decided to ratchet up the pressure, instead of just letting communism expand into Central America, etc. Many at the time wanted to make accomodations with such an evil system. And that, to me, is the essense of Reagan's greatness on that issue.
The problem with these arguments is that you really need a time machine to determine how much of an effect Reagan really had.
Here is an issue that both the Democratic and Republican parties can join together and congratulate themselves. Truman, JFK, and Reagan are the three shining examples of anti-Communism. They all had the tenacity to stand up to that great evil. Accomodation is never a good plan.
