We won WWII by allying ourselves with the Soviet Union. I suppose we could have stood on principles, and made the legitimate and accurate point that they were not much better than the Nazis.

During the Cold War, in Central and South America, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Africa, it was necessary to pick the lesser of two evils in many cases. Not pleasant, but necessary. The alternative was a totalitarian empire controlling much of the world.

I assume you have a better idea? When the Soviets started building bases in Central America, just leave it alone? Hope that maybe the U.N., where the U.S.S.R. has a veto, would do something?

Use our "revolutionary power?" Do you have to say "Shazam" or something to make that work?

The end of the Cold War made this largely unnecessary, and we can all be glad for that. Now, if we can start getting oil in our own country, and building some nuclear reactors, we will be able to tell the Saudis to go jump in the lake, too.