Hey Scott!
Your point about command-led vcommand-led is a very sharp one.......
The one obvious flaw is that you haven't paired up like for like....
On one side you have listed a set of countries which were all (at US insistence ) denied access to normal international commerce... and on the other... a set of countries which did have it, and most those had subsidies from the US Taxpayer on top.... in Israel's case to an astounding (and apparently illegal) degree.
I would not expect two such sets of societies to advance at an equal rate...........
Nevertheless........you've given me something to think about.
Salute Sir!