Essay --

When imagining the Cold War, it is safe to assume that most people envision a picture that of its namesake; a game of spy versus spy, secret black operations and nuclear threats, with no major physical conflict. However, contrary to the aforementioned portrait, and the given label, the Cold War was anything but â€Å"cold.† Not only was there physical conflict, but full-scale wars, fought out on the battlefield rather than the podium. Engulfed at the start was the Korean War, a bloody wake-up call for America on how far the Communists will fight for their government. A fact to be once again reinforced with the Vietnam War, both of which shook America up to the point of questioning their own â€Å"invincibility.† The â€Å"revelation† in the United States was due to the outcome of both wars, which points to the inarguable fact that our quest to stop Communism in Asia was an overall failure. The fact that the United States was not the global dominant power thought to be after WWII was a tough truth to swallow for the American populace at the time (and perhaps today). After WWII, the US was exhausted, battered, and relieved. Years of fighting finally ended how it began: with the bombing of an unsuspecting populace. A hypocritical, albeit â€Å"necessary† evil. With the newly established United Nations, the world could finally rest in peace. However, the US and its allies now how had a bigger problem to contend with. Many people saw it coming, even before the end of the war. General George S. Patton saw threat in the Soviet Union's power, even while US troops were fighting and dying alongside them. However, despite the warnings, the United States failed to act, and thus, found themselves reacting to Russia's every move. The lines were set, the alliances... ... topic on the minds of even the truest patriots: Did we win? Some might argue yes, since South Korea remains a democratic state today, a fact that cannot be stated if North Korea had won. However, some might argue the opposite; the fact that North Korea is still a thorough-bred communist threat proves that we failed our goal of uniting Korea under a democratic government. The line between winning and losing was, and is, too blurry to accurately decide a conclusion. This was in sharp contrast to WWII, or WWI, or even as far back as the Spanish-American war, where America won. America always wins, right? For the first time in almost 200 years, the answer to that question is no longer clear. And that scared the American people. And with that scare, the cracks of doubt formed in the window of invincibility. A window about to be shattered, by the Iron Hammer of Communism.