Freedom Betrayed: How America Led a Global Democratic Revolution, Won the Cold War, and Walked Away

Rating:
Summary: Bill Clinton's and John Kerry's Beach Vacation from History
Review: Michael Ledeen's analysis of how the USA defeated the evil communist regime of the Soviet Union is maybe the most valuable around for several reasons:

1. the democratic revolution of the 1970s and 1980s was a RIGHTIST movement, which destroyed the Intelligentsia's myth that revolutions are inevitably Leftist.

2. You get a clear picture of the difference between the USA's foreign policy and that of Left-wing tyrannical, totalitarian regimes.

3. Find out what most historians won't discuss: America's assistance in helping rescue Portugal from a communist takeover, which help turn the tide against Euro-communism.

4. Find out why Spain's transition from Franco to Juan Carlos, the Phillipines transition away from Marcos, Chile's purging of Pinochet SHOW THAT DEMOCRATIC REVOLUTIONS CAME FROM THE RIGHT and were, by and large, PEACEFUL.

5. LEFTIST REVOLUTIONS ARE BY NATURE VIOLENT.

6. You will learn about behind-the-scenes activities during the Reagan years that SYSTEMATICALLY WEAKENED SOVIET TOTALITARIANISM AND ROLLED BACK THE SOVIETS.

7. You learn why the modern American Democratic Party is, with a few exceptions, not equipped to manage American supremacy in the post-cold war world. The liberals signalled a full retreat to the extremes of neo-isolationism or humanitarian crusades. THE LIBERALS NEVER DEFEND AMERICA WHEN AMERICA FIGHTS FOR ITS INTERESTS.

8. You will learn how Bill Clinton, and, sad to say, George H.W. Bush, did not learn and apply the leadership of Ronald Reagan. Bush's leadership in the first Gulf War was good but an outgrowth of the Reagan buildup. BUT CLINTON WAS MUCH WORSE AND EVEN SIGNALLED WEAKNESS TO THE ENEMIES OF THE WORLDWIDE MOVEMENT TOWARD LIBERAL DEMOCRACY.

9. Ledeen offers answers, his "Contract with the World." Unlike so many writers, Ledeen offers this short, well-written strategy for the USA.

Ledeen's plan is an excellent anti-dote to the neo-isolationism of John Kerry, the meals-on-wheels dog-and pony foreign policy of Bill Clinton, and eternal State Department mush.