Faced with an overwhelming resolve not to give up the war against totalitarianism, the Soviet system folded up. Had the U.S. not been there, it would still be in place today, regardless of what the Soviet people thought. In fact, it would probably rule the planet.

Reagan's standing firm on many issues instead of caving to the usual negotiating tactics and unilateral disarmament fans, was responsible for calling the Soviet bluff.

It is interesting how the Left has rewritten history to shove Reagan off the table and set up Gorbachev as the hero of Soviet freedom. Glasnost and Gorbachev's other policies were attempts to somehow combine communism with freedom of thought, which of course is impossible, as has been proven in every nation where Marxism was in control. One or the other had to go, and fortunately it was communism.

Gorbachev deserves credit for letting communism fall quietly, and not responding to the calls for freedom with the usual hordes of tanks and weapons, but that's about it.