I know it is heretical to even ask it ,
But did we fall for a rope a dope ?
Who is WE?
The Masters of Capitalism won their war against the Soviets.
If you identify with them, then I suppose that you won.
However I think that the American middle class lost the cold war.
We paid for that win in multiple ways...
For example, much of our FREE TRADE policy is the residual of our nation giving third world nations license to import into this nation in return for those nations NOT moving into the Soviet sphere of influence.
For instance, in order to findally defeat the Soviets in Afghanistan we helped consitute the terrorist organizations that our nation is twisting itself into knots fighting right now.
So to the extent that the world was blown into nuclear dust, we won.
To the extend that now the masters of capitalism have nothing to fear from the Communist lunatics, also a win.
But as to that win leading to a better life for the average American?
No, not really.
heh, you would elevate the domino theory of communism inclusive of the intracacies of underlying forces like bretton woods, the wto, imf, et all true motivators of foriegn policy(s) to economic chess here?
Insinuating a world of grey hats who's allegiance(s) are possible of self enlightened interests inbettween the time honored white/black hat paradigm opens up can can of seething aultruistic worms
They're COMMIES for gawds sake! KILL 'Em ALL!
(oops, slipped there.....)
Yes.
The battle is always for power and economic dominance. Sometimes it's a hot war and sometimes it's war by economy.
But either way its a game played with game theory
The Soviets lost that cold war.
Not surprisingly they lost it because their economy couldn't support that half-century of conflict.