At that time we were continually assured that we were going to lose the Cold War because the Soviets were more discliplined more ruthless while we in the west were too soft to interested in our own life's too humane in fact the very same arguments that were trotted out today.
As a young and very committed anti Communist I agreed with those comments.
In fact we won the war by a firm combination of holding the line and keeping up the proxy war until the Soviets collapsed not due to war but to economy.
Secret proxy wars where we back each others enemies is nothing new, Iran is doing it to us we are doing it to them.
But we can afford to sit it out they cant.
Like the huge all powerful Soviet Empire Iran will collapse from within, what we have to do is to hold the line as we did during the Cold war.
I agree with most everything you say. Where I disagree is you sound like the rest of them on television and talk radio who want to do the same thing we did against the Soviets. I believe we are fighting a different animal than the Soviets where the old rules will not apply. I think one way we are failing in this war is we - the United States and the current administration - is still allowing the Immans to preach their insanity. I think what would be effective is every place we go in, we establish a telecommunications center which broadcasts Christianity 24/7 at 100,000 watts. Even if it is just someone reading the New Testament. I say this because even though we can beat them with bullets and such, their talk is still being heard by confused people. Their is no alternative for them to choose from. By the way, I enjoy talking with you.