Reagan Prolonged The Cold War

Londoner

Gold Member
Jul 17, 2010
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The Soviet system started to collapse economically in the 70s. Globalization was making it harder to maintain the Iron Curtain. The satellites were (slowly and unofficially) drifting into western markets and getting too expensive to control. Domestically, there was a mounting social unrest because the system was not providing for it's citizens like its western neighbors. Leading Soviet historian, Georgi Arbatov, has made it very clear that Soviet Union was rapidly unwinding before Reagan came to Washington.

When Reagan finally entered the picture, there were powerful forces inside the highest levels of the Soviet political system that wanted to de-miliatarize, letting the Curtain and broken economic policies collapse of their own weight. However, Reagan's military extremism -- provoking an arms race and challenging areas of truly weakened Soviet Control in South America, the Caribbean theater, and Middle East -- gave a minority of Soviet hardliners more power internally against those who would unwind the old system. In short, Reagan empowered the old Soviet guard to defeat (delay) the powerful westernizing movement which eventually brought Gorbachev to power.

In effect, Reagan not only scared Moscow back into a steroidal version of the Cold War -- but by inflating Moscow's power (which had been rapidly deteriorating for 20 years), Ronnie essentially put America on a bankrupting path of military expansion & spending. By the end of Reagan's tenure, America had over 800 bases spread across the globe, as well as a Defense industry that had no-bid access to the taxpayer's wallet and a budget that was kept largely in the dark. Suffice it to say, there were now massive financial interests tied to military expansion.

Reagan's motivations were many. First, by over-hyping the Soviet threat, he could militarize vital regions of the burgeoning global market. Indeed, the transnationals which fund American elections require access to cheap 3rd world labor and resources (and these places are often very unstable -- hence, the need to base the globe). Second, the domestic political gains of national security threats are too numerous to mention. Nothing moves money into a budget, or a voter into the voting booth like fear. It is the oldest trick in the book. Any time Washington needs to move money, they use fear: war on poverty, war on drugs, war on terrorism, etc. War moves money -- it is the essential political tool.

The Iraq War is the most symbolic outgrowth of the Reagan Doctrine (i.e., over-hyping an enemy for political reasons). He gave a tiny block of "neocons" (and the military industrial bureaucracies they served) enough political power to lead the country into a terminal quagmire on false premises. Two presidents, Bush and Obama, became a puppets of the political movement Reagan strengthened.

What is Reagan's Cold War legacy? The Soviets and the USA both lost, that is, the Cold War (and the internal political movements it strengthened) bankrupted both countries.

Curiously, both countries died in Afghanistan, the final resting place for military & political bureaucracies that continue to fight (spend) even when there is no country to fight, no enemy to vanquish, and no clearly definable objective to achieve.

Sadly, the American people are left only with lies and crippling debt, not to mention the civil rights which have been destroyed in the name of "security" - and please, let's not even talk about the biggest most unaccountable bureaucracy of all: Homeland Security. [and you thought the Right didn't like Big Government. Are you serious?] Indeed, you have created something which data mines your emails and web-tracks, but lacks the organizational dexterity to run a laundromat. What do you think the Republicans are going to do with Homeland Security once they get back in power? They're going to hunt their political enemies again, like Eliot Spitzer, who was making trouble for Bush allies on Wall Street like Hank Greenberg (AIG). Don't you get it? National Security bureaucracies are always categorically used to consolidate political power. Study history.

But I digress.

Once America overcomes the Reagan Cold War modus (specifically the way fear is used to strengthen various industries, political movements, and bureaucracies), it will be able to take a more objective view of its unsustainable global entanglements. Until that time comes, it will continue to exist in a politically manufactured cocoon of fear, patriotism, and messianic interventionism AKA "saving the world" -- the most utopian liberal hubris of all. At some point, saving the world or managing the globe becomes too expensive and the money runs out. Sadly, this is a lesson the American Right failed to learn on time.

Fact is though, America had a good run. Rome Fell. C'est la vie!
 
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There is a couple ways to look at this.

1- Yes, Reagan prolonged it long enough to win it. Unlike Barack "We Surrender" Obama, he was intent to see it through to victory, just as Bush did with Iraq. Obama has broadcast the Taliban that our forces will fight fiercly to the death.......up until a certain date. After that, see ya, we'll be gone and the Taliban can be trusted not to overthrow the governments we tried to help build.

or

2- The Cold War never ended, and it's NOT over. The Cold War was a war of Western freedom vs global communism. Russia was simply the head of the snake at the time. Sure, we made the snake retreat back into it's hole.....but did it die? No. The snake of communism is alive and well, and in my opinion, holding a strong presence within our own borders. Russia and China, in case no one has noticed, are not looking out for US interests. Putin, after all, is KGB. Like Marines in ONLY 1 way in that once KGB, always KGB.
 
I think the premise is false.

The biggest earner of hard foreign currency for the USSR was oil. The USSR benefited enormously from OPEC as well as the general depletion of known oil reserves at the time. The price of oil skyrocketed, filling the coffers of the Soviet Union, allowing it to stave off collapse. Thus, the Soviet Union was not on the verge of collapse, at least not after the mid-70s. Perhaps it was in the early 70s, but that was before Reagan.

The collapse of oil prices in the 1980s was a big reason why the USSR could not match the level of military spending of the US.
 
The Soviet system started to collapse economically in the 70s. Globalization was making it harder to maintain the Iron Curtain. The satellites were (slowly and unofficially) drifting into western markets and getting too expensive to control. Domestically, there was a mounting social unrest because the system was not providing for it's citizens like its western neighbors. Leading Soviet historian, Georgi Arbatov, has made it very clear that Soviet Union was rapidly unwinding before Reagan came to Washington.

When Reagan finally entered the picture, there were powerful forces inside the highest levels of the Soviet political system that wanted to de-miliatarize, letting the Curtain and broken economic policies collapse of their own weight. However, Reagan's military extremism -- provoking an arms race and challenging areas of truly weakened Soviet Control in South America, the Caribbean theater, and Middle East -- gave a minority of Soviet hardliners more power internally against those who would unwind the old system. In short, Reagan empowered the old Soviet guard to defeat (delay) the powerful westernizing movement which eventually brought Gorbachev to power.

In effect, Reagan not only scared Moscow back into a steroidal version of the Cold War -- but by inflating Moscow's power (which had been rapidly deteriorating for 20 years), Ronnie essentially put America on a bankrupting path of military expansion & spending. By the end of Reagan's tenure, America had over 800 bases spread across the globe, as well as a Defense industry that had no-bid access to the taxpayer's wallet and a budget that was kept largely in the dark. Suffice it to say, there were now massive financial interests tied to military expansion.

Reagan's motivations were many. First, by over-hyping the Soviet threat, he could militarize vital regions of the burgeoning global market. Indeed, the transnationals which fund American elections require access to cheap 3rd world labor and resources (and these places are often very unstable -- hence, the need to base the globe). Second, the domestic political gains of national security threats are too numerous to mention. Nothing moves money into a budget, or a voter into the voting booth like fear. It is the oldest trick in the book. Any time Washington needs to move money, they use fear: war on poverty, war on drugs, war on terrorism, etc. War moves money -- it is the essential political tool.

The Iraq War is the most symbolic outgrowth of the Reagan Doctrine (i.e., over-hyping an enemy for political reasons). He gave a tiny block of "neocons" (and the military industrial bureaucracies they served) enough political power to lead the country into a terminal quagmire on false premises. Two presidents, Bush and Obama, became a puppets of the political movement Reagan strengthened.

What is Reagan's Cold War legacy? The Soviets and the USA both lost, that is, the Cold War (and the internal political movements it strengthened) bankrupted both countries.

Curiously, both countries met their end in Afghanistan, the final resting place for military & political bureaucracies so out of control that they continue to fight (spend) even when there is no state to fight, no enemy to vanquish, and no clearly definable objective to achieve. One is left only with the lies and the price tag, not to mention the civil rights which have been destroyed in the name of "security".

Once America overcomes the Reagan Cold War mythology (specifically the way fear is used to strengthen various industries, political movements, and bureaucracies), it will be able to take a more objective view of its unsustainable global entanglements. Until that time comes, it will continue to exist in a politically manufactured cocoon of fear, patriotism, and messianic interventionism AKA "saving the world" -- the most utopian and bankrupting liberal hubris of all.




WHAT?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:eek:
 
There is a couple ways to look at this.

1- Yes, Reagan prolonged it long enough to win it. Unlike Barack "We Surrender" Obama, he was intent to see it through to victory, just as Bush did with Iraq. Obama has broadcast the Taliban that our forces will fight fiercly to the death.......up until a certain date. After that, see ya, we'll be gone and the Taliban can be trusted not to overthrow the governments we tried to help build.

or

2- The Cold War never ended, and it's NOT over. The Cold War was a war of Western freedom vs global communism. Russia was simply the head of the snake at the time. Sure, we made the snake retreat back into it's hole.....but did it die? No. The snake of communism is alive and well, and in my opinion, holding a strong presence within our own borders. Russia and China, in case no one has noticed, are not looking out for US interests. Putin, after all, is KGB. Like Marines in ONLY 1 way in that once KGB, always KGB.

Did you manage to say in one post both that Ronald Reagan won the Cold War, but that the Cold War is not over?

Awesome!
 
The Soviet system started to collapse economically in the 70s. Globalization was making it harder to maintain the Iron Curtain. The satellites were (slowly and unofficially) drifting into western markets and getting too expensive to control. Domestically, there was a mounting social unrest because the system was not providing for it's citizens like its western neighbors. Leading Soviet historian, Georgi Arbatov, has made it very clear that Soviet Union was rapidly unwinding before Reagan came to Washington.

When Reagan finally entered the picture, there were powerful forces inside the highest levels of the Soviet political system that wanted to de-miliatarize, letting the Curtain and broken economic policies collapse of their own weight. However, Reagan's military extremism -- provoking an arms race and challenging areas of truly weakened Soviet Control in South America, the Caribbean theater, and Middle East -- gave a minority of Soviet hardliners more power internally against those who would unwind the old system. In short, Reagan empowered the old Soviet guard to defeat (delay) the powerful westernizing movement which eventually brought Gorbachev to power.

In effect, Reagan not only scared Moscow back into a steroidal version of the Cold War -- but by inflating Moscow's power (which had been rapidly deteriorating for 20 years), Ronnie essentially put America on a bankrupting path of military expansion & spending. By the end of Reagan's tenure, America had over 800 bases spread across the globe, as well as a Defense industry that had no-bid access to the taxpayer's wallet and a budget that was kept largely in the dark. Suffice it to say, there were now massive financial interests tied to military expansion.

Reagan's motivations were many. First, by over-hyping the Soviet threat, he could militarize vital regions of the burgeoning global market. Indeed, the transnationals which fund American elections require access to cheap 3rd world labor and resources (and these places are often very unstable -- hence, the need to base the globe). Second, the domestic political gains of national security threats are too numerous to mention. Nothing moves money into a budget, or a voter into the voting booth like fear. It is the oldest trick in the book. Any time Washington needs to move money, they use fear: war on poverty, war on drugs, war on terrorism, etc. War moves money -- it is the essential political tool.

The Iraq War is the most symbolic outgrowth of the Reagan Doctrine (i.e., over-hyping an enemy for political reasons). He gave a tiny block of "neocons" (and the military industrial bureaucracies they served) enough political power to lead the country into a terminal quagmire on false premises. Two presidents, Bush and Obama, became a puppets of the political movement Reagan strengthened.

What is Reagan's Cold War legacy? The Soviets and the USA both lost, that is, the Cold War (and the internal political movements it strengthened) bankrupted both countries.

Curiously, both countries died in Afghanistan, the final resting place for military & political bureaucracies that continue to fight (spend) even when there is no country to fight, no enemy to vanquish, and no clearly definable objective to achieve.

Sadly, the American people are left only with lies and crippling debt, not to mention the civil rights which have been destroyed in the name of "security" - and please, let's not even talk about the biggest most unaccountable bureaucracy of all: Homeland Security. [and you thought the Right didn't like Big Government. Are you serious?] Indeed, you have created something which data mines your emails and web-tracks, but lacks the organizational dexterity to run a laundromat. What do you think the Republicans are going to do with Homeland Security once they get back in power? They're going to hunt their political enemies again, like Eliot Spitzer, who was making trouble for Bush allies on Wall Street like Hank Greenberg (AIG). Don't you get it? National Security bureaucracies are always categorically used to consolidate political power. Study history.

But I digress.

Once America overcomes the Reagan Cold War modus (specifically the way fear is used to strengthen various industries, political movements, and bureaucracies), it will be able to take a more objective view of its unsustainable global entanglements. Until that time comes, it will continue to exist in a politically manufactured cocoon of fear, patriotism, and messianic interventionism AKA "saving the world" -- the most utopian liberal hubris of all. At some point, saving the world becomes to expensive and the money runs out. Sadly, this is a lesson the American Right failed to learn on time.

C'est la vie! You had a good run.

Remarkable revisionist history doubtless from someone who wasn't there at the time.
Mr Gorbachev, tear down this wall!
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtYdjbpBk6A]YouTube - ‪Reagan at Brandenburg Gate - "tear down this wall"‬‎[/ame]
 
The Soviet system started to collapse economically in the 70s. Globalization was making it harder to maintain the Iron Curtain. The satellites were (slowly and unofficially) drifting into western markets and getting too expensive to control. Domestically, there was a mounting social unrest because the system was not providing for it's citizens like its western neighbors. Leading Soviet historian, Georgi Arbatov, has made it very clear that Soviet Union was rapidly unwinding before Reagan came to Washington.

When Reagan finally entered the picture, there were powerful forces inside the highest levels of the Soviet political system that wanted to de-miliatarize, letting the Curtain and broken economic policies collapse of their own weight. However, Reagan's military extremism -- provoking an arms race and challenging areas of truly weakened Soviet Control in South America, the Caribbean theater, and Middle East -- gave a minority of Soviet hardliners more power internally against those who would unwind the old system. In short, Reagan empowered the old Soviet guard to defeat (delay) the powerful westernizing movement which eventually brought Gorbachev to power.

In effect, Reagan not only scared Moscow back into a steroidal version of the Cold War -- but by inflating Moscow's power (which had been rapidly deteriorating for 20 years), Ronnie essentially put America on a bankrupting path of military expansion & spending. By the end of Reagan's tenure, America had over 800 bases spread across the globe, as well as a Defense industry that had no-bid access to the taxpayer's wallet and a budget that was kept largely in the dark. Suffice it to say, there were now massive financial interests tied to military expansion.

Reagan's motivations were many. First, by over-hyping the Soviet threat, he could militarize vital regions of the burgeoning global market. Indeed, the transnationals which fund American elections require access to cheap 3rd world labor and resources (and these places are often very unstable -- hence, the need to base the globe). Second, the domestic political gains of national security threats are too numerous to mention. Nothing moves money into a budget, or a voter into the voting booth like fear. It is the oldest trick in the book. Any time Washington needs to move money, they use fear: war on poverty, war on drugs, war on terrorism, etc. War moves money -- it is the essential political tool.

The Iraq War is the most symbolic outgrowth of the Reagan Doctrine (i.e., over-hyping an enemy for political reasons). He gave a tiny block of "neocons" (and the military industrial bureaucracies they served) enough political power to lead the country into a terminal quagmire on false premises. Two presidents, Bush and Obama, became a puppets of the political movement Reagan strengthened.

What is Reagan's Cold War legacy? The Soviets and the USA both lost, that is, the Cold War (and the internal political movements it strengthened) bankrupted both countries.

Curiously, both countries died in Afghanistan, the final resting place for military & political bureaucracies that continue to fight (spend) even when there is no country to fight, no enemy to vanquish, and no clearly definable objective to achieve.

Sadly, the American people are left only with lies and crippling debt, not to mention the civil rights which have been destroyed in the name of "security" - and please, let's not even talk about the biggest most unaccountable bureaucracy of all: Homeland Security. [and you thought the Right didn't like Big Government. Are you serious?] Indeed, you have created something which data mines your emails and web-tracks, but lacks the organizational dexterity to run a laundromat. What do you think the Republicans are going to do with Homeland Security once they get back in power? They're going to hunt their political enemies again, like Eliot Spitzer, who was making trouble for Bush allies on Wall Street like Hank Greenberg (AIG). Don't you get it? National Security bureaucracies are always categorically used to consolidate political power. Study history.

But I digress.

Once America overcomes the Reagan Cold War modus (specifically the way fear is used to strengthen various industries, political movements, and bureaucracies), it will be able to take a more objective view of its unsustainable global entanglements. Until that time comes, it will continue to exist in a politically manufactured cocoon of fear, patriotism, and messianic interventionism AKA "saving the world" -- the most utopian liberal hubris of all. At some point, saving the world or managing the globe becomes too expensive and the money runs out. Sadly, this is a lesson the American Right failed to learn on time.

Fact is though, America had a good run. Rome Fell. C'est la vie!

Every time I think I have seen the stupidest thing ever something else comes along and proves me wrong. I know I will eventually be proved wrong again, but you have seriously raised the bar.

Congratulations.
 
The Soviet system started to collapse economically in the 70s. Globalization was making it harder to maintain the Iron Curtain. The satellites were (slowly and unofficially) drifting into western markets and getting too expensive to control. Domestically, there was a mounting social unrest because the system was not providing for it's citizens like its western neighbors. Leading Soviet historian, Georgi Arbatov, has made it very clear that Soviet Union was rapidly unwinding before Reagan came to Washington.

When Reagan finally entered the picture, there were powerful forces inside the highest levels of the Soviet political system that wanted to de-miliatarize, letting the Curtain and broken economic policies collapse of their own weight. However, Reagan's military extremism -- provoking an arms race and challenging areas of truly weakened Soviet Control in South America, the Caribbean theater, and Middle East -- gave a minority of Soviet hardliners more power internally against those who would unwind the old system. In short, Reagan empowered the old Soviet guard to defeat (delay) the powerful westernizing movement which eventually brought Gorbachev to power.

In effect, Reagan not only scared Moscow back into a steroidal version of the Cold War -- but by inflating Moscow's power (which had been rapidly deteriorating for 20 years), Ronnie essentially put America on a bankrupting path of military expansion & spending. By the end of Reagan's tenure, America had over 800 bases spread across the globe, as well as a Defense industry that had no-bid access to the taxpayer's wallet and a budget that was kept largely in the dark. Suffice it to say, there were now massive financial interests tied to military expansion.

Reagan's motivations were many. First, by over-hyping the Soviet threat, he could militarize vital regions of the burgeoning global market. Indeed, the transnationals which fund American elections require access to cheap 3rd world labor and resources (and these places are often very unstable -- hence, the need to base the globe). Second, the domestic political gains of national security threats are too numerous to mention. Nothing moves money into a budget, or a voter into the voting booth like fear. It is the oldest trick in the book. Any time Washington needs to move money, they use fear: war on poverty, war on drugs, war on terrorism, etc. War moves money -- it is the essential political tool.

The Iraq War is the most symbolic outgrowth of the Reagan Doctrine (i.e., over-hyping an enemy for political reasons). He gave a tiny block of "neocons" (and the military industrial bureaucracies they served) enough political power to lead the country into a terminal quagmire on false premises. Two presidents, Bush and Obama, became a puppets of the political movement Reagan strengthened.

What is Reagan's Cold War legacy? The Soviets and the USA both lost, that is, the Cold War (and the internal political movements it strengthened) bankrupted both countries.

Curiously, both countries died in Afghanistan, the final resting place for military & political bureaucracies that continue to fight (spend) even when there is no country to fight, no enemy to vanquish, and no clearly definable objective to achieve.

Sadly, the American people are left only with lies and crippling debt, not to mention the civil rights which have been destroyed in the name of "security" - and please, let's not even talk about the biggest most unaccountable bureaucracy of all: Homeland Security. [and you thought the Right didn't like Big Government. Are you serious?] Indeed, you have created something which data mines your emails and web-tracks, but lacks the organizational dexterity to run a laundromat. What do you think the Republicans are going to do with Homeland Security once they get back in power? They're going to hunt their political enemies again, like Eliot Spitzer, who was making trouble for Bush allies on Wall Street like Hank Greenberg (AIG). Don't you get it? National Security bureaucracies are always categorically used to consolidate political power. Study history.

But I digress.

Once America overcomes the Reagan Cold War modus (specifically the way fear is used to strengthen various industries, political movements, and bureaucracies), it will be able to take a more objective view of its unsustainable global entanglements. Until that time comes, it will continue to exist in a politically manufactured cocoon of fear, patriotism, and messianic interventionism AKA "saving the world" -- the most utopian liberal hubris of all. At some point, saving the world or managing the globe becomes too expensive and the money runs out. Sadly, this is a lesson the American Right failed to learn on time.

Fact is though, America had a good run. Rome Fell. C'est la vie!


I assume we have someone from London--that was BORN yesterday. I lived through the cold war--and remember those sirens going off at noon--always the first Friday of every month--and having to get under our school desks.

The cold war lasted for decades--and it is Reagan that ended the cold war. In no way did he prolong the war. He put the screws to the Russian economy by growing our defenses.

Those same defenses and high tech bombing that we all witnessed during Gulf War 1 were from Reagan. Russia simply couldn't keep up--so they finally quit. This while every single democrat (John Kerry) was telling Reagan not to provoke the Russians--he told them to tear down the wall. And it worked they tore down the wall.
 
Reagan defeated the USSR so thoroughly he left them no choice but to complete their takeover of the Democrat Party
 
The Soviet system started to collapse economically in the 70s. Globalization was making it harder to maintain the Iron Curtain. The satellites were (slowly and unofficially) drifting into western markets and getting too expensive to control. Domestically, there was a mounting social unrest because the system was not providing for it's citizens like its western neighbors. Leading Soviet historian, Georgi Arbatov, has made it very clear that Soviet Union was rapidly unwinding before Reagan came to Washington.

When Reagan finally entered the picture, there were powerful forces inside the highest levels of the Soviet political system that wanted to de-miliatarize, letting the Curtain and broken economic policies collapse of their own weight. However, Reagan's military extremism -- provoking an arms race and challenging areas of truly weakened Soviet Control in South America, the Caribbean theater, and Middle East -- gave a minority of Soviet hardliners more power internally against those who would unwind the old system. In short, Reagan empowered the old Soviet guard to defeat (delay) the powerful westernizing movement which eventually brought Gorbachev to power.

In effect, Reagan not only scared Moscow back into a steroidal version of the Cold War -- but by inflating Moscow's power (which had been rapidly deteriorating for 20 years), Ronnie essentially put America on a bankrupting path of military expansion & spending. By the end of Reagan's tenure, America had over 800 bases spread across the globe, as well as a Defense industry that had no-bid access to the taxpayer's wallet and a budget that was kept largely in the dark. Suffice it to say, there were now massive financial interests tied to military expansion.

Reagan's motivations were many. First, by over-hyping the Soviet threat, he could militarize vital regions of the burgeoning global market. Indeed, the transnationals which fund American elections require access to cheap 3rd world labor and resources (and these places are often very unstable -- hence, the need to base the globe). Second, the domestic political gains of national security threats are too numerous to mention. Nothing moves money into a budget, or a voter into the voting booth like fear. It is the oldest trick in the book. Any time Washington needs to move money, they use fear: war on poverty, war on drugs, war on terrorism, etc. War moves money -- it is the essential political tool.

The Iraq War is the most symbolic outgrowth of the Reagan Doctrine (i.e., over-hyping an enemy for political reasons). He gave a tiny block of "neocons" (and the military industrial bureaucracies they served) enough political power to lead the country into a terminal quagmire on false premises. Two presidents, Bush and Obama, became a puppets of the political movement Reagan strengthened.

What is Reagan's Cold War legacy? The Soviets and the USA both lost, that is, the Cold War (and the internal political movements it strengthened) bankrupted both countries.

Curiously, both countries died in Afghanistan, the final resting place for military & political bureaucracies that continue to fight (spend) even when there is no country to fight, no enemy to vanquish, and no clearly definable objective to achieve.

Sadly, the American people are left only with lies and crippling debt, not to mention the civil rights which have been destroyed in the name of "security" - and please, let's not even talk about the biggest most unaccountable bureaucracy of all: Homeland Security. [and you thought the Right didn't like Big Government. Are you serious?] Indeed, you have created something which data mines your emails and web-tracks, but lacks the organizational dexterity to run a laundromat. What do you think the Republicans are going to do with Homeland Security once they get back in power? They're going to hunt their political enemies again, like Eliot Spitzer, who was making trouble for Bush allies on Wall Street like Hank Greenberg (AIG). Don't you get it? National Security bureaucracies are always categorically used to consolidate political power. Study history.

But I digress.

Once America overcomes the Reagan Cold War modus (specifically the way fear is used to strengthen various industries, political movements, and bureaucracies), it will be able to take a more objective view of its unsustainable global entanglements. Until that time comes, it will continue to exist in a politically manufactured cocoon of fear, patriotism, and messianic interventionism AKA "saving the world" -- the most utopian liberal hubris of all. At some point, saving the world or managing the globe becomes too expensive and the money runs out. Sadly, this is a lesson the American Right failed to learn on time.

Fact is though, America had a good run. Rome Fell. C'est la vie!

This is the dumbest fucking thing I have read in a long time. Fucking pinko communist. :lol:
 
The Soviet system started to collapse economically in the 70s. Globalization was making it harder to maintain the Iron Curtain. The satellites were (slowly and unofficially) drifting into western markets and getting too expensive to control. Domestically, there was a mounting social unrest because the system was not providing for it's citizens like its western neighbors. Leading Soviet historian, Georgi Arbatov, has made it very clear that Soviet Union was rapidly unwinding before Reagan came to Washington.

When Reagan finally entered the picture, there were powerful forces inside the highest levels of the Soviet political system that wanted to de-miliatarize, letting the Curtain and broken economic policies collapse of their own weight. However, Reagan's military extremism -- provoking an arms race and challenging areas of truly weakened Soviet Control in South America, the Caribbean theater, and Middle East -- gave a minority of Soviet hardliners more power internally against those who would unwind the old system. In short, Reagan empowered the old Soviet guard to defeat (delay) the powerful westernizing movement which eventually brought Gorbachev to power.

In effect, Reagan not only scared Moscow back into a steroidal version of the Cold War -- but by inflating Moscow's power (which had been rapidly deteriorating for 20 years), Ronnie essentially put America on a bankrupting path of military expansion & spending. By the end of Reagan's tenure, America had over 800 bases spread across the globe, as well as a Defense industry that had no-bid access to the taxpayer's wallet and a budget that was kept largely in the dark. Suffice it to say, there were now massive financial interests tied to military expansion.

Reagan's motivations were many. First, by over-hyping the Soviet threat, he could militarize vital regions of the burgeoning global market. Indeed, the transnationals which fund American elections require access to cheap 3rd world labor and resources (and these places are often very unstable -- hence, the need to base the globe). Second, the domestic political gains of national security threats are too numerous to mention. Nothing moves money into a budget, or a voter into the voting booth like fear. It is the oldest trick in the book. Any time Washington needs to move money, they use fear: war on poverty, war on drugs, war on terrorism, etc. War moves money -- it is the essential political tool.

The Iraq War is the most symbolic outgrowth of the Reagan Doctrine (i.e., over-hyping an enemy for political reasons). He gave a tiny block of "neocons" (and the military industrial bureaucracies they served) enough political power to lead the country into a terminal quagmire on false premises. Two presidents, Bush and Obama, became a puppets of the political movement Reagan strengthened.

What is Reagan's Cold War legacy? The Soviets and the USA both lost, that is, the Cold War (and the internal political movements it strengthened) bankrupted both countries.

Curiously, both countries died in Afghanistan, the final resting place for military & political bureaucracies that continue to fight (spend) even when there is no country to fight, no enemy to vanquish, and no clearly definable objective to achieve.

Sadly, the American people are left only with lies and crippling debt, not to mention the civil rights which have been destroyed in the name of "security" - and please, let's not even talk about the biggest most unaccountable bureaucracy of all: Homeland Security. [and you thought the Right didn't like Big Government. Are you serious?] Indeed, you have created something which data mines your emails and web-tracks, but lacks the organizational dexterity to run a laundromat. What do you think the Republicans are going to do with Homeland Security once they get back in power? They're going to hunt their political enemies again, like Eliot Spitzer, who was making trouble for Bush allies on Wall Street like Hank Greenberg (AIG). Don't you get it? National Security bureaucracies are always categorically used to consolidate political power. Study history.

But I digress.

Once America overcomes the Reagan Cold War modus (specifically the way fear is used to strengthen various industries, political movements, and bureaucracies), it will be able to take a more objective view of its unsustainable global entanglements. Until that time comes, it will continue to exist in a politically manufactured cocoon of fear, patriotism, and messianic interventionism AKA "saving the world" -- the most utopian liberal hubris of all. At some point, saving the world or managing the globe becomes too expensive and the money runs out. Sadly, this is a lesson the American Right failed to learn on time.

Fact is though, America had a good run. Rome Fell. C'est la vie!

This is the dumbest fucking thing I have read in a long time. Fucking pinko communist. :lol:

Well, just judging from Londoner's other thread topics--you're right--he/she is totally absent of facts--meaning he/she is on here--trying to re-write history--and is not doing a very good job of it--:lol::lol:
 
Hey!

That dickhead invented the phony ass cold war!

The Russians fucking loved America! They loved the very idea of America. They wanted to emulate America.

But Reagan was too fucking jealous. JEALOUS!

He wanted to vilify the Russians. And 2 million "Americans" belived him. MORONS!!!!

To our ultimate sorrow.

FUCK HIM!
 
The Soviet system started to collapse economically in the 70s. Globalization was making it harder to maintain the Iron Curtain. The satellites were (slowly and unofficially) drifting into western markets and getting too expensive to control. Domestically, there was a mounting social unrest because the system was not providing for it's citizens like its western neighbors. Leading Soviet historian, Georgi Arbatov, has made it very clear that Soviet Union was rapidly unwinding before Reagan came to Washington.

When Reagan finally entered the picture, there were powerful forces inside the highest levels of the Soviet political system that wanted to de-miliatarize, letting the Curtain and broken economic policies collapse of their own weight. However, Reagan's military extremism -- provoking an arms race and challenging areas of truly weakened Soviet Control in South America, the Caribbean theater, and Middle East -- gave a minority of Soviet hardliners more power internally against those who would unwind the old system. In short, Reagan empowered the old Soviet guard to defeat (delay) the powerful westernizing movement which eventually brought Gorbachev to power.

In effect, Reagan not only scared Moscow back into a steroidal version of the Cold War -- but by inflating Moscow's power (which had been rapidly deteriorating for 20 years), Ronnie essentially put America on a bankrupting path of military expansion & spending. By the end of Reagan's tenure, America had over 800 bases spread across the globe, as well as a Defense industry that had no-bid access to the taxpayer's wallet and a budget that was kept largely in the dark. Suffice it to say, there were now massive financial interests tied to military expansion.

Reagan's motivations were many. First, by over-hyping the Soviet threat, he could militarize vital regions of the burgeoning global market. Indeed, the transnationals which fund American elections require access to cheap 3rd world labor and resources (and these places are often very unstable -- hence, the need to base the globe). Second, the domestic political gains of national security threats are too numerous to mention. Nothing moves money into a budget, or a voter into the voting booth like fear. It is the oldest trick in the book. Any time Washington needs to move money, they use fear: war on poverty, war on drugs, war on terrorism, etc. War moves money -- it is the essential political tool.

The Iraq War is the most symbolic outgrowth of the Reagan Doctrine (i.e., over-hyping an enemy for political reasons). He gave a tiny block of "neocons" (and the military industrial bureaucracies they served) enough political power to lead the country into a terminal quagmire on false premises. Two presidents, Bush and Obama, became a puppets of the political movement Reagan strengthened.

What is Reagan's Cold War legacy? The Soviets and the USA both lost, that is, the Cold War (and the internal political movements it strengthened) bankrupted both countries.

Curiously, both countries died in Afghanistan, the final resting place for military & political bureaucracies that continue to fight (spend) even when there is no country to fight, no enemy to vanquish, and no clearly definable objective to achieve.

Sadly, the American people are left only with lies and crippling debt, not to mention the civil rights which have been destroyed in the name of "security" - and please, let's not even talk about the biggest most unaccountable bureaucracy of all: Homeland Security. [and you thought the Right didn't like Big Government. Are you serious?] Indeed, you have created something which data mines your emails and web-tracks, but lacks the organizational dexterity to run a laundromat. What do you think the Republicans are going to do with Homeland Security once they get back in power? They're going to hunt their political enemies again, like Eliot Spitzer, who was making trouble for Bush allies on Wall Street like Hank Greenberg (AIG). Don't you get it? National Security bureaucracies are always categorically used to consolidate political power. Study history.

But I digress.

Once America overcomes the Reagan Cold War modus (specifically the way fear is used to strengthen various industries, political movements, and bureaucracies), it will be able to take a more objective view of its unsustainable global entanglements. Until that time comes, it will continue to exist in a politically manufactured cocoon of fear, patriotism, and messianic interventionism AKA "saving the world" -- the most utopian liberal hubris of all. At some point, saving the world or managing the globe becomes too expensive and the money runs out. Sadly, this is a lesson the American Right failed to learn on time.

Fact is though, America had a good run. Rome Fell. C'est la vie!

Every time I think I have seen the stupidest thing ever something else comes along and proves me wrong. I know I will eventually be proved wrong again, but you have seriously raised the bar.

Congratulations.

One wonders what the purpose is of posting a revisionist history of something that happened 20 years ago following a president who was elected 30 years ago.
In fact the libs on this board often smear Reagan in one way or another. Could it be their insane desire to delegtimate the GOP to justify their own current Failure in Chief?
 

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