What were our lasting wins from the Cold War?

2015-05-11T01:01:38-04:00

We are on the brink of a new Cold War, some political pundits have argued. But looking backwards from 2015, exactly what were our lasting wins from the first Cold War? Why? And do you think we are entering a new Cold War, or not?

Response by SPC Angel Guma made May 11 at 2015 2:03 AM

2015-05-11T02:03:09-04:00

Landing on the moon was a big deal, I think.

Maintaining a large nuclear battle fleet definitely.

Killing the idea of global communism, above all.

Response by SCPO David Lockwood made May 11 at 2015 7:21 AM

2015-05-11T07:21:38-04:00

Space exploration, safer throughout the europe and asia, still have china, and the downfall of russia.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made May 11 at 2015 10:52 AM

2015-05-11T10:52:43-04:00

The reunification of Germany which has proved to be one of our strongest allies before, and after a turbulent period, and since that time. We put a lot of effort into turning Germany from a Nazi state into a freedom loving and exporting representative democracy. Germany has demonstrated that it can be an implacable enemy for our common foes and a capable and determined ally.
Freeing eastern Europe which has given us access to bases in Bulgaria and Rumania wit their access to the Black sea and Poland which gives us access to Kaliningrad and the Baltic and helps us provide support and encouragement to the Baltic States of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
Giving the world some breathing room to rebuild while Russia went through its own turbulent times.
For our own government in people, it showed that a resolute President Reagan who combined strong rhetoric and matched foreign policy with military posturing could be instrumental in changing the course of history and ending the Cold War which had been brewing and stewing since Yalta.
We have been in a cold war with China first over the Spratly Island and the oil fields there [and other areas such as economic espionage and computer mischief] and Russia which is more aggressively reasserting its dominance in Ukraine/Crimea; pressuring the Baltic states which will expand their access to the Baltic; and Russia is working with us and against us in relation to Iraq, Syria, Iran, Yemen, etc.
Our war with China is colder but our war with Russia has been heating up for a couple years.