[jammer]

But give Nixon credit. He was willing to confront totalitarianism; then called "communism." His democrat opponents were less willing to.

Really? Prior to 1966 or 1967, I don't think so. Bobby Kennedy was on Joe McCarthy's staff. Kennedy and, mainly, Johnson, got us into the shooting war in Vietnam. George Kennan, the author of the containment doctrine, was a democrat.

Sure, Nixon was an anticommunist (I disagree with confronting "totalitarianism", but debates about Chile, etc., aren't for this thread). But, until Bush II, Democrats were the ones who got us into wars.

[Vigilanteman]

George Kennan, the author of the containment doctrine, was a democrat.

Douglas MacArthur, author of the roll-back doctrine, however, was not even close to being a democrat.

[truth_seeker]

"But, until Bush II, Democrats were the ones who got us into wars."

As I read history we started in Vietnam under Ike and each successor ramped it up, until Nixon started it down.

In the really big picture, our willingness to have a proxy shooting war with communism probably WAS worthwhile. Four Presidents thought so.

As for Bush II starting wars, I refer you to the history of islamic expansionist actions dating to 1972 or before. Worth (finally) engaging, IMO.