Why do people credit Reagan with ending the cold war It was Afghanistan Like our Iraq that bankrupted Russia .

Answer 1

As usual arrogant Americans need to believe that is is an American that did this and so because it was during Reagan's watch that the USSR fell into their implosion,he gets the credit.

This is sheer jinkoistic American nonsense of course.

The very nature of the USSR political and economic system is what "did them in " and they would have imploded with or without Reagan.

Further it was the COLLECTIVE work of all the democracies around the world that accelerated the USSR implosion but as always,Americans always crap on the effort of all others and take full credit and in doing so merely justifiably earn the hatred of others.

Answer 2

Reagan used diplomatic , militia and economic stress on the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev presented perestroika and the glasnost reforms they collapsed in 1991, and the race for celebrity wars did no longer help the Soviets the two they won't compete, until now Reagan the Soviet already had a foul economic device. Our Congress does no longer permit Reagan proceed with celebrity wars that's so unhappy, we'd have had protection from missiles coming from different countries. undergo in strategies whilst Reagan informed Gorbachev to rip down this wall, he did 2 years later, and Germany became united. Reagan did no longer take any crap. He became a pacesetter he did no longer lead from in the back of as Obama is doing, I even have in no way heard of this type of stupid factor foremost from in the back of, and the yank human beings permit him get away with it, the mans an fool.

Answer 3

Afghanistan contributed to it, certainly. But the result of that was more a weakening of the national will and pride rather than the monetary impact. The monetary aspect was that Reagan increased US military spending to the point where Gorbachev finally said, in effect "This is ridiculous," and threw in the towel. Now, if Reagan had been a halfway decent leader rather than an ideologue, he could have actually negotiated with Gorbachev, and brought about a peaceful conclusion which wouldn't have bankrupted two nations.

Answer 4

I know it's easy to mimmick what you've heard, but here is a little info about Carter that maybe you haven't considered.

Jimmy Carter started sanctions against the USSR.( over the Afganistan conflict) This caused great hardship with their economy. THEN he started sending covert funds to the Afganistan Freedom fighters. This caused great pain in USSR with families of USSR soldiers that were being sent home in body bags. A brilliant foriegn affairs policy that was quickly adopted by President Ron Reagan as soon as he got into office. Great dissent regarding this war was commonplace across the USSR, leading to the country's eventual dimise.
All of which, mistakenly, has been credited to Ronald Reagan.

Answer 5

The Soviet Union was bound to collapse sooner or later, as its economic system was hopelessly corrupt and inadequate in meeting the needs of either the state or its citizens. Ronald Reagan started a spending race (remember the "Star Wars" proposal?) that the U.S.S.R. had no hope of keeping up with. He therefore hastened the downfall of the Soviet Union. Afghanistan was not a significant factor.

A note to "truthisback." Americans like to take credit for the collapse of Germany in World War II. Certainly their economic aid and military contribution played an important role. However, it's worth remembering that the Soviet Union lost 20 million men in World War II fighting the German. The U.S. also had help from countries of the British Commonwealth and partisans and home armies in Nazi-occupied countries. It's entirely conceivable that the U.S. could have beaten Germany without help from anyone, but it would have taken a lot longer and victory would not nearly have been as certain.

Answer 6

Reagan made the last real big arms race push which broke the Soviets. Reagan poured money into defense and our stockpiles were huge. Then he bagan militarizing Western Europe. Moscow tried to counter but couldn't keep up. Also, the US supplied the Mujahadeen with money and supplies. So, yes he is credited rightfully so for breaking the Soviet Union in the cold war.

Answer 7

You're kidding right? The Soviets had experienced a brief resurgence of power during the Carter administration, and were actually doing better at the start of Reagan's term. The Soviets were forced into an arms race that they couldn't possibly win by Reagan, and they tried to do it anyways. THAT is what brought about their fall.

The cost of modern wars are a drop in the bucket compared to the total income of a nation. Medicare is running at a 7 trillion dollar deficit right now. We would have to fight in Iraq for 200 years to catch up to that number. What your proposing is like giving a mosquito credit for taking down a rhino with fifty bullets in him.

Answer 8

It isn't as simple as pointing to Afghanistan to explain the collapse of the Soviet Union, but it's definitely not as stupid as pointing to Reagan.

There were a number of factors going on that led to this historical result. Economic policy, trade policy, personalities, the liberalizing policies of Gorbachev, etc., were all knicks in the floodgates.

Answer 9

Afghanistan was to the USSR what Vietnam was to the USA. It was a blow, particularly to national pride and confidence, but hardly a fatal one.

Answer 10

Anybody who actually wants to LOOK IT UP - it was Carter who pushed the ball down the hill.

Raygun just happened to be in office when the ball got to the bottom of the hill.

The rest is pure Republican spin. They really are the best at it, Democrats haven't learned to lie like that yet.