You know Doug I don't believe the USSR was the, "er "Evil Empire."
The State Dept. Socialist jibe is a cheap shot.
Defensiveness about the failings of Communists, who were slaughtered in great numbers by Stalinists, who tried the best they could given the political, cultural, Nazi and economic constrainsts/threats, is a Old Left habit it is well time to get rid of.
E.P. Thompson faced the same objections in '56 re; the Hungarian revolt from orthodox CPGB'ers.
-- Michael Pugliese