Was the Cold War a Product of Paranoia?

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Question:

I was doing some research and found this statement!. What do people think!? Agree or Disagree!? Why!?

"The Cold War and domestic anti-communism were rational and measured responses on the part of U!.S!. government and society to tangible external and internal threats from a paranoid and expansionist Soviet Union abroad and subversive communist elements at home!."

Interesting, no!? But I'm thinking I disagree!.!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

Product of it: no!. Fueled by it: yes!.
You have to study World or at least American history for 1920 - 1980!. Most people have not specifically looked at that period!.
The "paranoia" began after WWI, specifically during WWII!. Soviet Russia made it clear that they would cover as much ground as possible, and their evnemies were capitalist nations: U!.S!. Englans, France, etc!. Much study and thought went into the next major stance that America took, and the other former Allied nations backed U!.S up!.
After WWII, there was an immediate cap on USSR to not take the Japanese Islands for revenge or repatriation, since they had lost so much from the Japanese!. They also wanted Germany for the same reasons, also to make sure Germany didn't do what it did for 2 consecutive decades!. The first was easier since U!.S!. used the A-bomb and didn't allow Russia to find against the Japanese to overtake their islands!.
The second was harder and ended up dividing Berlin and germany into 2 sides: East and West: capitilist/Republic and Socialist/Communist!. Chins becomes Communist!.
North Korea invades South korea: North Korea is Communist now!. America decides to enact the theory of Monroe by stopping the communist spread and counters North Korea with military stregnth-and stopping the China and Russia backed advance of North Korea!. Russia makes many overtures to take all of Asia, and succedes in taking a healthy chunk!.
Russia and U!.S!. engage in espianage against each other, England as well proved the most superior at it!.
That began all the paranoia!. Internally there were illogical and emotional political and social responses to "Red Russia" and "red China"!. Some were legitimate, some were horror stories to gain votes or gain power in politics!. Adide from Vietnam, the policy worked!. remember it was to stop the spread of communism, not squash it!. So, in America there were government mechanisms put in place to stop people from meeting at socialist meetings and forming communist groups!. Seems like a violation of free speech, but it squelched a lot of bad things!. It also put a lot of innocent people in prison and ruined some lives!.
There are 2 eras in American history known as "Red Scares"!. Joseph McCarthy fomented the larger one; without him it may not have gotten as bad as it did!.
The paranoia was extreme for both sides, but the respect was also for both sides, thus always allowing calmer heads to prevail!.
In the end the policy held strong and won: fall of the Berlin Wall, fall of the Soviet Union!.
Alot to read: sorry!.

I miss the cold war!Www@QuestionHome@Com