You are an American President in the middle of Cold War. In early 1960s, the Soviet Union launched general attacks in Europe (and thus, started the WWIII), and successfully drove the Western Allies across the Channel. Unexpectedly, the Red Chinese backstabbed their fellow comrades and launched massive invasion of Central Asia and Russian Far East, thinking the West and the USSR were too busy with each other. The years of bloodbaths of an unprecedented scale follow immediately afterward between the Soviets and the Chinese.
Now, with both Communist giants immensely exhausted and unable to harm the West in any meaningful way, you are presented with two options:
1) Invade and liberate Europe, up to the border of USSR, then sign a peace deal with them. And maybe also mediate a peace between it and the PRC.
2) Invade and liberate Europe, and then, by combined manpower and resources of the entire Allied nations, invade Soviet Union to dismantle the Communist regime and liberate its people for their Dictator. Then proceed with the same thing against China. Bingo, two largest Communist states are no more. "Capitalism vs. Communism" Cold War is finally and entirely over.
Which option that you will choose?
Some points that I'd like to bring:
- The first option seems to be safer and easier, also minimalize the casualties while still become the big winner in the War. However, both USSR and PRC will still be around, and in much worse shape than before. God knows what will happen to those poor workers and peasants...
- The second option, of course, requires a lot of casualties from all three sides, and in the case of Russia and China, a lot of civilian casualties too. We're talking about invading two largest countries in the world here. However, the prize is enormous: Russia and China will become democratic and liberal states, and their people won't have to worry about being oppressed by some dictatorships anymore...
Now, with both Communist giants immensely exhausted and unable to harm the West in any meaningful way, you are presented with two options:
1) Invade and liberate Europe, up to the border of USSR, then sign a peace deal with them. And maybe also mediate a peace between it and the PRC.
2) Invade and liberate Europe, and then, by combined manpower and resources of the entire Allied nations, invade Soviet Union to dismantle the Communist regime and liberate its people for their Dictator. Then proceed with the same thing against China. Bingo, two largest Communist states are no more. "Capitalism vs. Communism" Cold War is finally and entirely over.
Which option that you will choose?
Some points that I'd like to bring:
- The first option seems to be safer and easier, also minimalize the casualties while still become the big winner in the War. However, both USSR and PRC will still be around, and in much worse shape than before. God knows what will happen to those poor workers and peasants...
- The second option, of course, requires a lot of casualties from all three sides, and in the case of Russia and China, a lot of civilian casualties too. We're talking about invading two largest countries in the world here. However, the prize is enormous: Russia and China will become democratic and liberal states, and their people won't have to worry about being oppressed by some dictatorships anymore...