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I don't agree. I often hear the the Cold War was unnecessary because "the Soviet Union was doomed anyway." Well, it not only survived for 70 years, it thrived for many of those years. It wasn't until we actually elected a President who was resolutely determined to roll back communism (as opposed to peacefully co-exist with it) that the USSR finally collapsed. And that did not happen because the USA suddenly adopted a neo-isolationist attitude and hid behind the walls of Fortress America. It happened because we engaged and fought the commies on the world stage and brought them down through a brilliant series of deft political and ideological maneuver, military build-up, and large-scale economic warfare.

The world is a better place because this war was fought and because we won it. To argue that it was all a mistake because it "saddled us with socialism" is ridiculous -- the fight against socialism continues. We haven't won it yet and we won't stop until we do win it.

If you choose to throw America on the scrap-heap of history, go ahead -- I don't care what you believe. I'll just point out that in doing so, you're in distinguished company. I seem to recall a fat Ukranian peasant, 50 years ago or so, saying something about a burial. He was right -- he just got the roles reversed.

Did you ever wonder why Reagan was so opposed by the establishment? It was because he actually wanted to win the Cold War. The foreign policy elites thought the world a better place balanced between two major spheres of influence. And, as I mentioned already, the cold war had special benefits for socialism at home and abroad. Reagan was an establishment outsider and a true believer in the fight, hence he was a threat to the order set up by liberals and maintained since W.W.II.

As far as the longevity of the USSR goes isn't it interesting how we were the first to recognize the Soviets as the legitimate rulers of Russia, loaned them money, aided them, forgave their debts, shipped them wheat, etc. Were we trying to win them with kindness or propping them up?

>If you choose to throw America on the scrap-heap of history, go ahead

Sorry but the old republic, fidelity to the constitution and traditional values are already consigned to the history books here in post -Christian America. It is only time before our version of socialism fails. Social safety net ponzi schemes, high taxations, over regulation, socialized medicine (coming with prescription drugs for seniors in the vanguard), massive deficit spending and imperial over reach will take it toll just as sure as ocean waves on a sand castle take theirs. But do not despair too much though, the idles of liberty and limited government that our founders cherished will rise again somewhere someday. Perhaps our blatant disregard for their wisdom and advice will serve as a warning to some future champions.