Bob Kerrey: “7 years ago last month, hard-line and aging Communist bosses in the Soviet Union made a clumsy attempt at a coup d'etat…”

“7 years ago last month, hard-line and aging Communist bosses in the Soviet Union made a clumsy attempt at a coup d'etat against then President Gorbachev. The coup accelerated the slow-motion implosion of the Soviet empire. By December of that year, our old nemesis had collapsed in an overwhelming, decisive and total victory for the United States. This ended 50 years of cold war that had exacted a tremendous toll in blood, sweat and treasure from our Nation. Our emotions ran the gamut from pride to relief--relief especially that the dark cloud of nuclear annihilation seemed to have passed and, in a more subtle way, relief that the heavy burden of leading the world in a battle for freedom against communism had been lifted from our shoulders. We clamored for a peace dividend. We reveled in our newfound ability to focus the Nation's energy on domestic affairs. But the last few weeks of events in Russia have been a rude wake-up call, a convincing demonstration that neither the danger nor the burden have been lifted. If anything, Mr. President, they are greater.”