October 25, 2004
A word about Paul Nitze, who died last week at age 97.
Paul Nitze was the architect of the tough approach to communism and the Soviet Union that proved successful in defeating what Ronald Reagan called the evil empire.
As director of the state department's policy planning staff in 1950, Nitze helped frame the strategy of building up U.S. Forces to keep the Soviets contained in Eastern Europe.
The left opposed most of what Nitze stood for, no more than in the 1980's when Reagan proposed installing pershiping missiles in Europe to counter a Soviet buildup. The left wanted us to show the Soviets we meant them no harm.
Nitze and Ronald Reagan wanted to show them we intended to defeat them.
And defeat them we did.
The left conveniently forgets such things and goes on to the next mistake.
But had it not been for Paul Nitze and his steadfastness, the Soviet Union might still be standing, eastern Europe would still be in bondage and communism might still be on the march.
The defeat of Soviet communism is a pretty good epitaph for Paul Nitze.
I'm Cal Thomas in Washington.
Cal Thomas is a nationally syndicated columnist based in Washington, D.C. Watch his television show, After Hours with Cal Thomas, on the Fox News Channel, Saturdays at 11 p.m. Eastern Time.
