OPINION: Reagan's plan defeated Gorbachev's communism. It can beat communist China, too
in 1980 the country was in a similar situation as today – runaway inflation, a stagnant economy, and in retreat around the world after a long running failed foreign war. The Arab oil embargo of the 1970’s had driven global energy prices sky high, giving the oil-exporting Soviet Union record profits. They used the windfall to launch a military buildup, develop a more capable and lethal nuclear arsenal and expanded globally. They launched proxy wars with Communist allies worldwide.
Ronald Reagan disagreed. He believed the fundamental flaws of communism – a centrally planned economy and self-perpetuating Communist party dictatorship – would inevitably cause the Soviet Union to collapse from within. His goal was to speed it along with. It sounded like a bumper sticker slogan. Actually, it was a comprehensive and ambitious strategic plan to win the Cold War without firing a shot.
The Reagan defense buildup checkmated the Soviet Union’s military buildup of the 1970s. His emphasis on creating strong alliances, especially with the British Prime Minister and the Pope. helped neutralized Soviet expansionism. That got equilibrium back into geopolitics. At the same time, the U.S. imposed severe restrictions on transfer of superior American technology to the backward Soviet Union and shut down third party workarounds. Reagan also urged American banks to stop extending loans to Russia.Reagan’s proposal to begin research and development of ‘Star Wars’ missile defense system shook the confidence of Soviet leaders. They were barely keeping up with the U.S.
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