[John Valentine]

By your logic, Reagan was in favor of surrender because he didn’t have us invading countries. He defeated the Soviets by containment and deterrence, not wars like Bush’s Iraq invasion or the Iran invasion that so many confused consertaives pant for.

Total horsepucky. Reagan was in favor of defeating Communism, and did so, thereby defending our civilization.

Your argument, if you can even call it that, posits two and only two alternatives to a problem with an entire spectrum of possible options for action. The point is to be SMART about our tactical and strategic choices. Smart peace would be preferable to dumb war, but smart war might well be preferable to dumb peace.

Dogmatism is not a survival trait. That's a truism you need to mull over and maybe take to heart.

[WilliamIII]

Reagan was in favor of defeating Communism,

Yes, but not by starting wars.