Posted on 11/29/2006 1:30:13 PM PST by ventanax5
In the fall of 1990, as Germany celebrated reunification, an enormous tragedy was taking shape in Moscow. The historical turning point can be reconstructed from previously undisclosed minutes of Politburo meetings published in Russia this month. And Mikhail Gorbachev may finally get the historical recognition he deserves.
Editor's Note: Seventeen years ago, the Berlin Wall fell, and two years later the Soviet Union broke apart. More than 1,400 minutes published earlier this month in Russia from meetings that took place behind the closed doors of the Politburo in Moscow read like a thriller from the highest levels of the Kremlin. They reveal Mikhail Gorbachev as a party chief who had to fight bitterly for his reforms and ultimately lost his battle. But in doing so, he changed the course of history and helped bring an end to the Cold War. Christian Neef, 54, who served as DER SPIEGEL's correspondent in Moscow until 1996, explains why the "Kremlin minutes" may polish Gorbachev's image in the history books.
(Excerpt) Read more at spiegel.de ...
Hmmm.
Not the 'superpower' I thought of when I first saw the headline.
I'm still reading it, but so far it confirms what everyone should have known: that Honecker should have been hung.
I believe we had the same superpower in mind, sign of the times I suppose.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus
"I believe we had the same superpower in mind"
Add me to that list.
The Soviet Union was NEVER a superpower. True, it was a military power. But that was the beginning and end of its power. It contributed absolutely nothing to the world in the way of manufacturing, culture, innovation, technology, or wealth strength.
In fact, it was abysmally weak in every area outide of military prowess, and even that ultimately proved no match for the USA.
This is Spiegel's English version which often differs from the German version. The German version says that, whatever the problem, it's George Bush's fault.
Gorbachev wanted to reform communism, not bring it to an end. But, he should be credited with not sending troops into East Germany in 1989 to put down the uprising against that government. And he didn't send troops into the other European satellite countries as they threw off communism in 1989 either.
Gorbachev could have followed precendent such as East Germany 1953, Hungary 1956, and Czechoslovakia 1968 and crushed dissent in those countries. The world would look different today if he had used Soviet military might against the satellite countries, and it's possible the Soviet Union would also still be here if he had done things differently.
Gorby was one of the most incompetent leaders in history, and I daresay that if anyone with half a brain were in charge instead of him the Cold War would still be on.
Reagan's policies worked, but only because there was such a dunce on the other side. Sort of like a fake field goal.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus
Except for Prokofiev, Shostakovich, Eisenstein, Solzhenitsyn...
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus
Oh, and Sputnik.
The defeat and withdrawal in Afghanistan also played a huge part. If a military power loses a battle it is in serious decline. The USA almost didn't make it as a superpower after Vietnam. We are losing that status again (as many on this thread have suggested).
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus
Even if you throw in Prokofiev, Shostakovich, Eisenstein, Solzhenitsyn..., that still leaves the old USSR more than a few beers short of the Superpower sixpack.
I would disagree. Those are some titanic figures in world cultural history. You had claimed that the USSR made no impact on culture, which is not a valid stance.
The USSR was a superpower. They influenced the course of human events in a bipolar world. Half of the third world looked to them for money and guidance. That's a fact. They lost, yes, due in large part to a dope of a leader. We almost lost too. Just because the team doesn't win the championship doesn't mean they weren't a strong contender.
In fact, it was abysmally weak in every area outside of military prowess, and even that ultimately proved no match for the USA.
Amen!! The liberals in the West have always given the USSR more credit than it deserved -- a lot more. Another case of "The wish is father to the thought".
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