William Clark's War (Not Charlie Wilson’s)

The Washington Times ^ | January 2, 2008 | Robert Stacy McCain

[flattorney]

Abstract: Moviegoers enjoying the critically acclaimed "Charlie Wilson's War" — starring Tom Hanks as a freewheeling congressman who helped secure funding for anti-Soviet fighters in Afghanistan in the 1980s — might be missing out on the story of a man who played an even more important role in winning the Cold War - William P. Clark Jr., a lifelong Republican. One of President Reagan's closest confidants, Mr. Clark spent 22 months as national security adviser, a period marked by the completion of more than 100 national security decision directives (NSDDs) spelling out the policies by which the "Evil Empire" of Soviet communism was eventually consigned to "the ash heap of history." "More than any other adviser, Judge Clark helped Ronald Reagan win the Cold War — no question about it," said Mr. Kengor, who co-authored "The Judge: William P. Clark, Ronald Reagan's Top Hand". It was while Mr. Clark headed the National Security Council (NSC) from January 1982 until October 1983 "that they laid out the administration's formal strategy to undermine the Soviet Union," said Mr. Kengor. "When Clark left [NSC to become secretary of the interior] at the end of 1983, his job was finished," he said. "The policy was in place that eventually led to the collapse of the Soviet empire."

[flattorney]

Posted for FlAttorney by TAB

[Always Right]

And, perhaps Reagan deserves the credit.

[smoketree]

Actually Charlie Wilson was secretly advising Reagan on how to conduct foreign policy against Reagan’s thoughts.
So it was a democrat behind the great achievements of the Reagan era.

[bukkdems]

This is a weak argument, since it was much later that stinger missiles were secreted into Afghanistan around 1988. Reagan does get immense credit for going against all advice to get these USA labeled stinger missiles to the Mujahedeen at that time. This was the first time any weapons other than ancient Soviet-made were sent to the Afghans (to keep the operation covert.) The courage of Reagan cannot be overestimated.