Trump was well on his way, UNTIL Obama/Clinton decided to weaponize an election. They are now so deeply into the deception, the only way out is to destroy a country that is not our enemy. Russia has LONG been our ally. The time beginning in 1945 was another stategic miscalculation. The Americans could have easily used Patton and his idea to arm the German army to kick the USSR out of Europe. Then we could have simply ended the future Cold war easily. They left the table set like they did, to GUARANTEE future conflicts. Just like we didn’t support Chiang Kai Shek and push Maoists into a pit filled with lime.
The Cold War was inevitable. It was really a “war of religion”, there were no miscalculations, except on the part of Truman, when he forced excessive disarmament after 1945. The Soviets were truly dangerous because of the communist fifth column in the rest of the world.
There were no understandings possible with them, other than through fear.
The Nationalist Chinese were simply incompetent. They had plenty of materiel to fight with, it was just that they were lousy at fighting, and especially at inspiring troops. And they were facing far superior leadership in every way.