Reagan played vital role in Soviet collapse
Ahh yes, another history
lesson from Will Stewart.
“Reagan probably didn’t
have much to do with defeating
communism,” Mr. Stewart
opined. Being a conservative
myself, I’ll admit two major
policy mistakes made by
President Reagan – lack of
response after the Beirut
barracks bombing and lacking
firm control over subordinates
during IranContra.
However, I do have a problem
with Mr. Stewart’s statement,
“Though he saw the
Cold War to its conclusion, his
contribution to the fight was
minor.” President Reagan does
deserve most of the credit for a
victorious conclusion to the
Cold War for the following
reasons:
Radio Free Europe: Messages
of the Eastern Bloc provided a
voice contrary to the one heard
from Communist propaganda.
They offered hope and helped
to psychologically undermine
Moscow’s efforts.
Economic sanctions on
Eastern Europe: The fact that
Reagan slapped these on Bloc
countries so economically
hampered efforts there that the
USSR had to appropriate funds
to keep the satellites from
collapse. The boycott of
advanced technology to the
USSR and the halting of
production on a natural gas
pipeline from the USSR to
Western Europe also cost the
Soviets billions of dollars.
Pope John Paul II: He and
the president’s relationship
and outspoken hatred of the
Soviet system galvanized
Catholic resolve especially in
the Pope’s native Poland.
Commitment to fight Soviet
backed regimes in Central
America: The military advisers
and finances sent to Nicaragua
and El Salvador plus the invasion
of Grenada made Castro
and Cuba awfully nervous
prompting the Soviets to send
billions more to the island.
Saudi oil agreements:
Reagan convinced the Saudis
to pump more oil to make
prices plummet. Result? Saudi
and OPEC prices were so low
the Soviet Union could not
afford to sell their oil.
What about the U.S. backing
the Mujahadeen in
Afghanistan: another quagmire
for the Soviets which cost
billions of dollars and tens of
thousands of lives.
Throw in the tough rhetoric
by President Reagan (“evil
empire,” “tear down this
wall”), his unwillingness to
budge at Reykjavik, and the
fact the former antagonist itself
admits that Reagan played the
largest role in the Soviet
Union’s collapse, and I think
we have a clear picture that
this role for the former actor
was anything but minor.
Matt Snow
133 Copperridge Trail
Rockvale, Tenn.