Who was Responsible for the Cold War? The West, or the East?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jorbaud

Some historians believe they would have surrendered. We could have carpet bombed them instead of using the atomic bombs or gotten help from our allies.

---

we were already carpet bombing them

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by *jdm*

we were already carpet bombing them

---

Obviously not enough.

Carpet bombing was only really useful against cities, not military bases. But I see what you mean.

Japan would probably have fought to the last drop of blood, though.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BrotherhoodUK

Carpet bombing was only really useful against cities, not military bases. But I see what you mean.

Japan would probably have fought to the last drop of blood, though.

---

We could have carpet bombed them until they all died...and we had radar so we could easily go in during the nights and bomb their bases losing a minimal amount of people.

Bombing an enemy into submission does not work. The Germans tried and failed (rather epically) and the Allies tried and failed in response.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BrotherhoodUK

Bombing an enemy into submission does not work. The Germans tried and failed (rather epically) and the Allies tried and failed in response.

---

I was not saying to bomb the enemy into submission, I was saying bomb the enemy until they all died to get rid of the enemy.

You would have bombed a nation into non-existence, Jorbaud? That would have put the West into a really bad light, diplomatically. Which, would probably have tipped the balance and could have maybe caused the East to do the same to us.

Then again, Military history is not a strong suit of mine...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Fallbreeze

You would have bombed a nation into non-existence, Jorbaud?

---

Yes. They killed our people.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Fallbreeze

That would have put the West into a really bad light, diplomatically.

---

Yeah probably.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Fallbreeze

Which, would probably have tipped the balance and could have maybe caused the East to do the same to us.

---

That would cause WW3 which the East might not want to do.

Anyway, both sides had blame in the Cold War. I don't think that either side was more 'responsible' for the start of it than the others.

I still contend that the Cold War's existence rests entirely in the hands of the West. While it may have been an intelligent reaction to the actions of the East, the build up and resulting proxy wars were equivocally the result of Western powers fearing what may eventually have resulted from an unchallenged East.

Little is heard in defense of the Soviet Union and their effect on the modern world. I am not asserting they were correct in any of their beliefs nor arguing against that. They were re-emerging onto the international scene as a strong power and competitor to the current global powers who felt it just and prudent to over-prepare themselves for war.