Posted on May 26, 2014
Cold War Veterans: How do you feel about Putin's rebuilding of the USSR?
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I was assigned to Nuremberg, Germany from 1985 - 1989. I watched the intelligence leading up to the collapse of the Soviet Union. I saw how our military spending and build-up severely strained the USSR to keep up. SDI was a threat Gorbachev could not leave unanswered but Soviet technology was far behind and U.S. spending could not be equaled. This brought Gorbachev to the bargaining table with President Reagan. I have always seen the Cold War as one of America's greatest victories won with little bloodshed.
As Putin watched the drawn-down of the U.S. military, the removal of our battle tanks from Europe, cancellation of Poland missile defense, U.S. Iran policy and European dependence on Russian natural gas he has taken advantage of weakness to annex Crimea and neuter the Ukraine. These are most likely the first incremental steps in reassembling much of the old USSR.
If you are a Cold War Veteran, how do you feel about Russia's rise in power and Putin's efforts to restore the Soviet empire?
As Putin watched the drawn-down of the U.S. military, the removal of our battle tanks from Europe, cancellation of Poland missile defense, U.S. Iran policy and European dependence on Russian natural gas he has taken advantage of weakness to annex Crimea and neuter the Ukraine. These are most likely the first incremental steps in reassembling much of the old USSR.
If you are a Cold War Veteran, how do you feel about Russia's rise in power and Putin's efforts to restore the Soviet empire?
Posted in these groups: 
Cold War
Geopolitics / International Relations
Cold War Geopolitics / International Relations
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 9
Just because on paper the Cold War is over don't make it so. And we have fallen behind in modernizing our resources. Politicians get involved and the best equipment is not whats necessarily chosen. I believe the base closures might have been one of the biggest mistakes along with the draw down of resources of European Command. So we have made it pretty easy for Mr Putin and having a spineless administration doesn't help the situation. So does our Cold War victory mean nothing?
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Horrible sir we cut our budgets and tell the whole world and look what happens.
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SGT (Join to see)
Sgt Hill,
That is so true. Both Russia and China are definitely taking advantage of that.
That is so true. Both Russia and China are definitely taking advantage of that.
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Suspended Profile
Regrettably inevitable - unless the civilian leadership has the nerve to go toe to toe with hardened Russian troops.
LCpl Steve Wininger
Unfortunately Sandy, our leaders have no nerve whatsoever. We have seen how much nerve the leadership had when Russia went into Crimea.
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