Hindsight it would seem obvious that Carter would get called out on his hypocrisy which is why it is surprising that they stuck their reasoning. It is also interesting that the best thing they could choose to protest was the Olympics, one of the largest symbols of peace. Hard to say whether it worked out in the long run since the Soviet Union did not last too much longer but good post.
Author: Eric Iredale
Comment on Comrades of the Traveling Pants by Eric Iredale
We are always taught about the economic and cultural strains the soviets faced but to think it got as far as to rank by jeans is insane. People always associate things like guns and drugs on the black market and I would have never thought to associate …
Comment on Fighting in Afghanistan Never Works by Eric Iredale
It has never occurred to me to link the Afghan war for the Soviets with the Vietnam war for the US but as you say it is surprisingly similar. To think that the Soviets had such patriotism just before the collapse of the Union is also surprising. Good piece, would have also been interesting to compare the long term effects of the two wars other than the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Comment on The Corn Man by Eric Iredale
Without reading things like this and lacking an understanding of agriculture make the idea of farming seem so simple and straightforward. Hard to understand that even with modern techniques and technology there is a lot that can go wrong. Also hard to think of how much could have been different for the Soviet Union had Khrushchev been more successful with his farming campaigns.
Comment on The Race to Space by Eric Iredale
And who ever said competition didn’t drive innovation? I am curious as to how much simpler the Soviets made their satellite in order to get it our quicker. Why is it being first is more important than being best?
Comment on Corn and Communism Are All That Matter by Eric Iredale
I can cite it as a book below the post but I cited it as such to make a hyperlink for it. The book was published in 2003 and while I see now the cite says ebook not published, the ebook should have been published in January this year. I will fix the gr…
Comment on Cult of Not Stalin by Eric Iredale
Two reasons seem the most likely. First, making this move gives the illusion of a changing direction to the international community. Kruschev makes it seem as if the Soviets are civil and reformed post-Stalin by undoing some of his most egregious actio…
Comment on The Beginnings of the Cold War by Eric Iredale
The beginnings of a crisis are always critical in understanding the shaping of the problem. It is really interesting how when looking at these events it is painted in a light the the US acted first and created the tipping point unknowingly. From the post, it is as if the Soviets viewed the Cold War crisis as a reactionary war rather than an offensive war. Very good details to understand the shaping of the Cold War.
Comment on Prisoners of War and “de-Stalinization” by Eric Iredale
This seems like a huge move for de-stalinization but I never knew that this was simply a “death of a tsar” thing which explained these actions. I wonder how much the amnesty was meant to legitimize a lot of what Stalin did or simply just natural procedure. These little tidbits of details always matter.
Comment on Freedom from the Gulags by Eric Iredale
Moves like this seemed to be in line with Kruschev’s plans of tearing down the cult Stalin built. I never knew there was a book circulated around which could easily condemn Stalin and this would have been another action which coincided with actions I mentioned. The tone of the book would be interesting to know in regards to Stalin.
