JPII's support of Solidarity in Poland which spread freedom across the eastern block played just as much a role, if not more.
Why are you obsessed with undermining JPII's efforts and successes --and in this thread-- motives?
Well, I wouldn't agree that Solidarity was as powerful as the Pershing missles, but that's certainly debatable.
Brian, I'm not undermining JPII's efforts. He is doing it himself. Calling for another UN, with more emphasis on the "rich-vs-poor" issue is a clear slap at the rich Western nations.
He also seems to feel that there may be some reason we ought to listen to what motivates the terrorists. These terrorists, most prominently, are funded by very wealthy nations.
What possible "motivations" he has in mind simply confound me.
I don't think John Paul II wants to come to terms with what is at work here: Muslim extremists, driven to destroy a culture that they abhor.
That culture includes the Western culture that he is very much a part of.