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Pastimes : Let's Talk About Our Feelings!!!

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To: Michael M who wrote (51111)8/13/1999 8:45:00 PM
From: Dayuhan  Read Replies (4) of 108807
 
I would list constant meddling and proxy wars in much of the world

The Soviets were not the only ones who did it, though this is one area in which they were a good deal smarter than we were.

Between proliferation and the ascendency of the Chinese, a golden door of opportunity has been closed.

The ascendency of the Chinese, at least as a nuclear power, is less real than many who read headlines would be imagine. The Chinese nuclear force is tiny and has never been seen as anything but defensive. The article cited here:

Message 10916165

Does a great deal to put the Chinese nuclear force in perspective.

I think X has a good point: while the interests of the Soviet Union may have been contrary to ours, they could at leat be counted upon to pursue their own interests, which made them to some extent predictable. The current state makes the rise of a thoroughly irrational nationalist regime - whether communist or not is of little importance - entirely possible, maybe even probable. This would be much more dangerous than the situation we faced before.

When we look at the Reagan administration's role in bringing down the Soviet empire, whether great or small, we must also consider their handling of the transition out of communism. This I think was very poorly handled, and I think that a major reason that it was poorly handled was the tendency of American conservatives to define freedom as the absence of communism, and to assume that once Russia ceased to be communist everything would be ok.

We have learned that this is the case. I am not sure that a phased transition along the lines of what the Chinese are now beginning - whether or not they can pull it off remains to be seen - would not have been a better idea.
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