The lessons of the Berlin Wall, 20 years later
In 1989, East German soldiers peer into forbidden West Berlin as crowds pull down a section of the wall dividing the city. (AP file photo)
Twenty years ago this week the Berlin Wall was breached, an event now recognized as the end of our four-decade Cold War against Soviet communism.
To say the end came unexpectedly is an understatement. In fact, it took the world a few days and even weeks to fully comprehend what had happened in Berlin, because it was such an odd way for a war to resolve itself.
No peace pact was signed; no surrender was announced and no capital city was captured. The shooting did not end because there had been very little shooting in the first place. Force of arms, which settled most wars through history, played a minimal role in deciding this one.
Instead, we won that war through the force of our ideas: In our advocacy of personal and economic liberty, we were right and they were wrong, and with each passing year of the Cold War that fact became more and more apparent. Communist ideology, rigid and repressive, could not adjust gradually to changing times so it was doomed to adjust all at once, by collapsing.
We just didn’t know when.
President Ronald Reagan, in a speech to the British House of Commons in 1982, laid out what would happen pretty well.
“Our military strength is a prerequisite to peace, but let it be clear we maintain this strength in the hope it will never be used. For the ultimate determinant in the struggle that’s now going on in the world will not be bombs and rockets but a test of wills and ideas, a trial of spiritual resolve, the values we hold, the beliefs we cherish, the ideals to which we are dedicated.”
That was exactly right. Military power was essential, but mainly because it deterred attack and gave us time. Given time, the inherent advantages of the West would and did produce victory.
Today, we are engaged in another sort of war, a lengthy war in which once again, force of arms will not be decisive. Military power is necessary in preventing attack, but even our generals tell us it cannot produce victory. Once again, that will come through the appeal of our ideals and the clear moral bankruptcy of our opponents.
It’s important to understand the nature of this current conflict, and to recognize the causes of success when we stumble upon it, so it can be repeated.
Early in the occupation of Iraq, for example, Sunni Arabs embraced the help of al-Qaida terrorists in fighting the American invader. But that began to change once the Iraqis experienced the brutality and repression inherent in Islamic fanaticism. Beheadings, random violence and the imposition of sharia law did what thousands of U.S. troops could not; they changed Iraqi hearts and minds, which changed everything.
That same dynamic is playing out in Pakistan. Videos of the Taliban whipping innocent women and horror at heartless terrorist attacks on marketplaces and other civilian sites have done what we could not. They convinced Pakistanis to oppose Islamic extremists.
And in Iran, three decades of life under an Islamic theocracy — and three decades of watching the world pass them by — have convinced millions to demand freedom and a better way of life.
George Kennan
In each of those cases, the Iranians, Iraqis and Pakistanis are not rejecting Islam itself. They don’t need to reject the religion to reject the fanatics who claim to fight in its name, and that’s an important lesson.
Admittedly, such a strategy requires a lot of faith and patience, especially when military power offers a tempting shortcut. George Kennan, one of the chief architects of our Cold War strategy, described it as “placing our confidence in the longer and deeper workings of history.”
“We must have courage and self-confidence to cling to our own methods and conceptions of human society,” Kennan wrote in 1946. “After all, the greatest danger that can befall us … is that we shall allow ourselves to become like those with whom we are coping.”
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394 comments Add your comment
Turd Ferguson
November 10th, 2009
11:55 am
Thank you George W Bush for keeping us safe. We forgive you Bill Clinton for allowing 911 to take place.
I Report :-) You Whine :-( AmWet Is A Coward mmm, mmmm, mmmmm!
November 10th, 2009
11:57 am
Yeah but Reagan never apologized for America to the Communists.
stands for decibels
November 10th, 2009
11:58 am
“We must have courage and self-confidence to cling to our own methods and conceptions of human society”
Alternately, we can pretend that there’s something new under the sun and concoct enhanced interrogation techniques and suchlike, you know, just this once.
But I prefer Ambassador Kennan’s approach, at least as articulated above.
Nothing Is Free
November 10th, 2009
12:01 pm
Thank you GW Bush for opening AIDS clinics all over Africa that have virtually stemmed the tide of the disease.
No thank you to Obozo who has declared that all the very successful clinics start counseling women on having abortions, resulting in their country’s Islamic leaders closing the clinics and refusing the US aid.
I Report :-) You Whine :-( AmWet Is A Coward mmm, mmmm, mmmmm!
November 10th, 2009
12:04 pm
Ahaha, the rats are bailing out of the ship of fools already-
Anita Duhn will return to Squier Knapp Dunn, the consulting firm where she is a partner, but will remain as a consultant to the White House on the communications and strategic matters.
Rahm Emanuel, Obama’s chief of staff and former Illinois Congressman, has made clear he would like to return to elected office at some point in the not-too-distant future.
They can see the big ass hole in the side, mmm, mmmm, mmmmm!
Nothing Is Free
November 10th, 2009
12:05 pm
BTW. Heard that in order for the Ft Hood killer to be put to death, Obozo will need to approve the execution since it was on federal property.
So kids, let’s all welcome the real victim of the killings, i.e. the killer and be ready to be sympathetic to the person who killed 13 Americans and wounded over 30 others. Let’s get ready for the love!!!!!
Doggone/GA
November 10th, 2009
12:06 pm
“Heard that in order for the Ft Hood killer to be put to death”
How about a link to that?
booger
November 10th, 2009
12:10 pm
I am ashamed that our president saw fit to decline an invitation to play a large part in this celebration. Same goes for the christening of the new Navy battleship. These are big deals and I assure you people notice and remember such snubs.
Normal
November 10th, 2009
12:11 pm
Nothing Is Free
November 10th, 2009
12:05 pm
NIF, we do not want to kill this man. Let’s not make him a martyr.
Put him in jail for life, feed him pork and beans for life and when he dies of old age bury him in a pigs skin, but do not kill him.
The radical islamists do not need another hero
AmVet
November 10th, 2009
12:11 pm
“We must have courage and self-confidence to cling to our own methods and conceptions of human society,” Kennan wrote in 1946. “After all, the greatest danger that can befall us … is that we shall allow ourselves to become like those with whom we are coping.”
Like Ike’s brilliant speech in January 1961, the sage advice of these men was ultimately lost on the barbaric neo-conned as they and their religious zealots hijacked an entire political party and usurped it with that sham of an ideology.
One that spat on the US Constitution, suspended habeus corpus, from the top down promoted torture and allowed corporations to spy on Americans.
What a disgraceful turn of events.
No wonder they are hemorrhaging…
Brad Steel
November 10th, 2009
12:11 pm
Jay’s article underscores the reasoning to get out of Iraq and Afghanistan. There is no strategic reason to continue waging war in either country – there never was.
Yet, despite the lack of strategic reasoning for remaining in Afghanistan, I believe the last indication was that Bookman was waffling.
Although it is not the disasters of the Bush regime, Obama’s leadership to date has been weak and indecisive for both Iraq and Afghanistan.
Doggone/GA
November 10th, 2009
12:12 pm
“The radical islamists do not need another hero”
It doesn’t matter one way or the other. If they need him to be a “hero” they’ll make him one…dead or alive.
Doggone/GA
November 10th, 2009
12:15 pm
“Obama’s leadership to date has been weak and indecisive for both Iraq and Afghanistan.”
Make a decision. Make any decision. Don’t think about it. Don’t weight the consequences. Don’t form an opinion on the best course to take. Just make a damn decision NOW. /sarc
Matilda
November 10th, 2009
12:16 pm
NIF, REALLY? C’mon, this has the potential to be a good topic, and all you’re putting forth is “abortion bad” and “Obozo coddles criminals” bulldookie? Dang, homie, either take a vacation or step up! This is just LAZY, phoning-it-in stuff. SSDD. Where’s your WORK ETHIC, man?!? Sad.
Bosch
November 10th, 2009
12:19 pm
Party on Germans!!
Taxpayer
November 10th, 2009
12:20 pm
Did Bush ever find Gog.
Bosch
November 10th, 2009
12:21 pm
And all you baseball nuts out there – what the hell happened to Sammy Sosa?
Bosch
November 10th, 2009
12:22 pm
Nice article Jay.
I’ve said it many many times before – but worth repeating – wars are not won with weapons anymore – stew on that wingnuts and get back to me.
Hef
November 10th, 2009
12:23 pm
Bosch-From below,looks like Sammy been seeing the sme Doc as Michael.
Normal
November 10th, 2009
12:23 pm
Bosch
November 10th, 2009
12:21 pm
And all you baseball nuts out there – what the hell happened to Sammy Sosa?
He’s channeling Michael Jackson…
AmVet
November 10th, 2009
12:24 pm
Bosch, wow.
Just wow.
Infamous for corked bats, the cheater’s now apparently turned into the Clorox Man…
Bosch
November 10th, 2009
12:25 pm
Hef/Normal,
That’s just plain freaky!! EEEKK! Yeah, I wrote Eeekkk.
Agnes
November 10th, 2009
12:25 pm
NIF;
Yes, why can’t you make a real contribution.
One like……, well one like the contribution Matilda made.
getalife
November 10th, 2009
12:25 pm
We should learn the lesson of Afghanistan from the USSR.
Perhaps when Texas breaks away after the collapse, we can finally invade to get those Texas terrorists.
Brad Steel
November 10th, 2009
12:27 pm
what the hell happened to Sammy Sosa?
he’s juicing-up and auditioning for Dancing with the Stars
Doggone/GA
November 10th, 2009
12:27 pm
“One like……, well one like the contribution Matilda made.”
And, of course, yours as well
Bosch
November 10th, 2009
12:27 pm
AmVet/Hef/Normal,
Are we sure he has not become a Creature of the Night and roams the countryside in search of blood? That’s just gross.
Again, Party on Germans!!! East Germans are not to be messed with. Just saying.
Normal
November 10th, 2009
12:28 pm
The real deal is Sosa got his teeth whitener mixed up with his body wash…
Joey
November 10th, 2009
12:30 pm
It seemed to me in Jay’s comments that he liked what ultimately happened in Iraq. Do you think he was giving Obama credit for that?
And Pakistan, was that credit aimed at Obama?
getalife
November 10th, 2009
12:30 pm
If Sammy was going for the creepy look, he nailed it.
Doggone/GA
November 10th, 2009
12:31 pm
“Do you think he was giving Obama credit for that?”
No
“And Pakistan, was that credit aimed at Obama?”
No
Hef
November 10th, 2009
12:31 pm
Bosch-I read somewhere that Sammy is going to have is nose worked on next. Can he dance?
Agnes
November 10th, 2009
12:31 pm
And yours. Thank you.
Taxpayer
November 10th, 2009
12:31 pm
For some reason, I don’t see us making a dent in the Great Wall of China though.
Redneck Convert (R--and proud of it)
November 10th, 2009
12:32 pm
Ah, Reagan, Reagan, Reagan! What a great President! Not like this Kenyan in the White House now. Funny, I’ve been trying to get ready to talk about the next great President. But Sara, Sara, Sara and Pawlenty, Pawlenty, Pawlenty don’t have the same ring, and you can forget about trying to say Huckabee, Huckabee, Huckabee or Mormon, Mormon, Mormon.
Have a good p.m. everybody.
Hef
November 10th, 2009
12:32 pm
Normal-To Funny!!!!
Bosch
November 10th, 2009
12:34 pm
Hef,
I think he’s turned into a vampire and needs to be staked.
Joey
November 10th, 2009
12:37 pm
Redneck;
But Palin, Palin, Palin:
Now that just flows across the vocal cords.
Normal
November 10th, 2009
12:38 pm
Hef, Thank yuh very much…I’ll be here all week…
—————–
That would be extra rare then….
Normal
November 10th, 2009
12:40 pm
That last comment was for Bosch…Staked…extra rare…oh. never mind!
Joey
November 10th, 2009
12:40 pm
Thank you Doggone/GA, I agree.
So Jay credited the Bush Administration for successes in Iraq and Pakistan?
Bosch
November 10th, 2009
12:42 pm
Question to all you old people out there:
I was 21 when the Berlin Wall came down, and although I remember it vividly and remember thinking “well this is news,” to me at least, it seemed rather sudden. Like – “BREAKING NEWS” The Berlin Wall is coming down. I don’t remember much leading up to it – but then again, I was young and not really paying attention too much at the time. Just curious.
Bosch
November 10th, 2009
12:42 pm
NORMAL!!!
Doggone/GA
November 10th, 2009
12:44 pm
“So Jay credited the Bush Administration for successes in Iraq and Pakistan?”
No, he didn’t. What is it with you guys and reading comprehension? Read it and THINK:
“That same dynamic is playing out in Pakistan. Videos of the Taliban whipping innocent women and horror at heartless terrorist attacks on marketplaces and other civilian sites have done what we could not. They convinced Pakistanis to oppose Islamic extremists.
And in Iran, three decades of life under an Islamic theocracy — and three decades of watching the world pass them by — have convinced millions to demand freedom and a better way of life”
He credited the PEOPLE…not Bush, not Obama, not ANY LEADER. The PEOPLE.
Doggone/GA
November 10th, 2009
12:46 pm
“I was 21 when the Berlin Wall came down”
Apropos of nothing much…I was 10 when the Wall went UP.
david wayne osedach
November 10th, 2009
12:48 pm
Imagine if they had internet up and running when they put up the Berlin Wall. It would not have lasted a month!
Doggone/GA
November 10th, 2009
12:50 pm
“It would not have lasted a month!”
I don’t know about that. The Korean DMZ still exists.
stands for decibels
November 10th, 2009
12:52 pm
Like – “BREAKING NEWS” The Berlin Wall is coming down. I don’t remember much leading up to it
Well, there had been massive anti-government demonstrations on the east side, people chanting “Give it up, Erich”, suchlike. It was newsworthy that the DDR wasn’t brutally repressing the dissent as they had before.
So yeah, there was a decent lead up. That said, when the actual breech itself occurred, it did happen quickly and unexpectedly.
@@
November 10th, 2009
12:52 pm
That was exactly right. Military power was essential, but mainly because it deterred attack and gave us time. Given time, the inherent advantages of the West would and did produce victory.
Today, we are engaged in another sort of war, a lengthy war in which once again, force of arms will not be decisive. Military power is necessary in preventing attack, but even our generals tell us it cannot produce victory. Once again, that will come through the appeal of our ideals and the clear moral bankruptcy of our opponents.
Not a bad piece, jay. There’s only one thing you failed to mention. It WAS and DID happen in Iraq but you and your liberal cohorts, in the media, opted to put forth the negative rather than the positive, making the job all the more difficult for our military.
Hiding facts that are clearly in evidence is a liberal’s favorite pastime.
You must’ve heard Obama approved HIS surge of 40,000. How long before the liberals lose patience with his “barrage” and demand he make hay and bail.
Jefferson
November 10th, 2009
12:52 pm
Bunch of traitors here.