The Wall came down between East and West Germany on Nov. 9, 1989. This constituted a monumental moment in World History. It also represented the end of the Soviet Union and the beginning of fledgling democracies in the satellite countries surrounding Moscow. Mikhail Gorbachev, General Secretary of the Communist Party, put his life and career on the line when he successfully argued to tear down the wall. And it ended up destroying his political life and his future as a Russian citizen. Today he is essentially a pariah in political circles and exists on the periphery of Russian society, living in a dacha on the Black Sea.
Since Putin’s ascension he has made it clear that his goal is to restore the former glory of the Soviet Union. This means re-annexing the countries of pre-wall collapse. He has been consistent in this goal. Since the wall came down the West has flip-flopped with each succeeding administration in its attitudes and policies toward Russia. But the West failed in one profound and unforgivable regard: When the wall came down,NATO felt compelled to push its missile installations closer to Russia. Whatever happened to the notion of “Saving Face?” Why did NATO feel the need to rub Russia’s face in the diminishment of its empire? The West had won a major Cold War issue, why pour salt in the wound and allow it to fester in the aspirations of Mr. Putin? Shame on the U.S. and NATO diplomacy. Now we wring out hands and try and sound tough in the face of a harder Russian resolve.
Brad Brigham
Colrain