[lbo-talk] Re: Reagan, Arms Race and Collapse of Soviet Union

[mike larkin]

"Many on the American Right claim that it was Reagan's
militaristic pressure, increased military spending
(discussion of Star Wars etc), etc. that caused the
collapse of the Soviet Union.  The thinking goes that
the Soviet Union had to spend more on military
spending, couldnt afford it and this exacerbated
contradictions in the Soviet Union, leading to its
demise. Thomas"

 
I don't see how you can deny that Reagan's policies played the pivotal role in the collapse of the USSR, regardless of how you spin the numbers. John Cooley (a leftist), in Unholy Wars, makes the point that the Stinger anti-aircraft missle probably did as much to end the USSR as any other factor, since it allowed the U.S. to shoot down Soviet aircraft in Afghanistan and gain valuable military intelligence; plus the U.S. intervention in Aghanistan caused massive heroin abuse among the Soviet military, among other morale-crushing effects.( It also led to 9/11, so the question of whether it was all worth it is indeed a valid one.)

 
This is a bitter pill for lefties to swallow, but it's important to face reality. Facts are facts.

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