No matter its outcome, the meeting in Alaska will be a success for Vladimir Putin
The significance of the meeting between Russia President Vladimir Putin and President Trump in Alaska is clear not only because of the high stakes of the talks — peace in Ukraine — but also because of its symbolic date: Aug. 15.
Tomorrow marks the 105th anniversary of the historic Battle of Warsaw, when Poles halted the advance of Russian communism to the West.
Trump once said that the Russians are a valiant nation, having defeated both Napoleon and Hitler. That much is true. However, the Russians have also suffered many defeats, especially in offensive wars. Moreover, between defeating Napoleon and Hitler, they lost a war with Poland at enormous cost. The Battle of Warsaw on Aug. 15, 1920 was another day of defeat for Russia that ended Bolshevik dreams of expansion westward.
Vladimir Lenin wanted to spread the communist revolution to Western Europe. In the aftermath of World War I, the German, Austrian, French and British proletariat were all ripe for revolt; they just needed a little help. Thus General Mikhail Tukhachevsky's Red Army, whose political commissar was none other than Joseph Stalin, marched westward.
Few believed the Polish Army could stop the Bolshevik forces, which were three times larger. But what........
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