Mikhail Gorbachev has died.

[91Joe95]

Mikhail Gorbachev had 'huge impact on the course of world history', says Vladimir Putin

Vladimir Putin expressed 'deepest condolences' after the 91-year-old died following a 'serious and prolonged illness'

www.telegraph.co.uk

 

[DavidM]

He almost single-handedly destroyed Marx's theory about the inevitable triumph of communism. It's a shame that a democratic form of government didn't emerge from the rubble, but the Russians have zero history with that.

 

[PSU Mike]

Sort of a legendary 20th century historical figure when you take a step back. R.I.P.

 

[razpsu]

Thank god for Reagan telling Gorbachev to tear down the wall and Gorbachev did!!

 

[Zenophile]

If I recall correctly, in Russian this roughly translates to, "He has a cold."

 

[HectorSpectre]

He was a Russian before a Communist, who saw and recognized the insanity that Putin clearly doesn’t. Gorbachev was a man wise enough to seek peace through détente and brave enough to embrace it when offered. RIP.

 

[91Joe95]

Thank god for Reagan telling Gorbachev to tear down the wall and Gorbachev did!!

Reagan got pilloried for that comment. They accused him of being confrontational, naive, etc. ****, the guy traded a non-working missile defense system for the first ever real arms reductions. Special shout out to Margaret Thatcher, Helmut Kohl, and Francois Mitterand - no milquetoasts in that group. Just a bunch of visionary and pragmatic leaders who left a lasting legacy for the US and the world.

 

[razpsu]

Of course he did but he was right and it worked!

 

[91Joe95]

He was a Russian before a Communist, who saw and recognized the insanity that Putin clearly doesn’t. Gorbachev was a man wise enough to seek peace through détente and brave enough to embrace it when offered. RIP.

I find Gorbachev to be interesting. He did a lot of bad things to get where he did, and even while he was premiere. That said, he recognized the Soviet Union was failing and tried to get it going in the right direction.

 

[AvgUser]

Geez. I would have sworn he did about 15years ago.

 

[91Joe95]

Geez. I would have sworn he did about 115?years ago.

You might be thinking of his successor, Boris Yeltsin, who even by Russian standards had a bit of a drinking problem.

 

[NitneLiun]

You might be thinking of his successor, Boris Yeltsin, who even by Russian standards had a bit of a drinking problem.

Yelstin didn't have a drinking problem. He very much enjoyed being drunk.