By Edwin Cooney
As candidates Clinton and Trump warn us of present and coming crises that only they can solve, have you ever wondered what it’s like when a crisis actually is surmounted? It has happened, you know! In fact, today, September 12th, 2016, marks the 26th anniversary of the slaying of what nearly was a very catastrophic crisis.
History is indeed tricky! Sometimes we think a crisis is surmounted when an immediate conflict is over. For example, when George Washington and the French Navy cornered Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown, the Revolutionary War was over, but the new nation had a long way to go before becoming functional as well as independent. The Revolution was only really and truly complete when the original thirteen states, under the Articles of Confederation, adopted the 1787 Constitution, established the federal government and inaugurated George Washington as the first president on Thursday, April 30th, 1789 at Federal Hall in New York City. That was thirteen years after our much vaunted July 4th, 1776!
When Robert E. Lee surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox that Sunday, April 9th, 1865, the immediate crisis of the union was settled. However, there was a president yet to be assassinated and a race of blacks to be “dealt with (wisely or foolishly)” depending on how Americans, on both sides of the Mason Dixon line, were inclined to behave.
On Sunday, September 2nd, 1945, General Douglas MacArthur cut a splendid figure as he stood on the deck of the USS Missouri along with Britain’s General Percival and America’s General Wainwright (both of whom had been Japanese prisoners of war) to humble the Japanese military constabulary. Yes, indeed, World War II was over, but it was hardly to be followed by “…peace on earth, good will toward men!” Victory over Italy, Germany and Japan, satisfactory and necessary as they were, merely turned a hot war into a “cold war.” Nevertheless, there was a need to celebrate, because even as there was to be another era of suspicion, at least the guns were silent.
As politicians, the media, and “we the people” argue about Mrs. Clinton’s integrity and Mr. Trump’s wisdom or knowledge about public issues, the fact of the matter is that it’s difficult to measure these two conundrums, let alone be certain of all they imply. What you can be sure of is that regardless of which candidate is elected, it is more than likely that one of his or her actions will invariably result in an unintended consequence which will create some kind of crisis.
Not all national crises are military. In April of 1955, Dr. Jonas Salk brought an annual national crisis to a successful end when he released the Salk poliomyelitis vaccine. Additionally, in July 1969, we triumphed over the perceived Soviet lead in outer space when we achieved President Kennedy’s goal of putting a man on the moon before 1970 thereby triumphing over the Soviets whose Sputnik satellite launching had so frightened us in October of 1957. The medical and technical blessings that the “space race” brought us continue to be monumentally beneficial to our national well-being.
The crisis conclusion we can celebrate today occurred on Wednesday, September 12, 1990. That crisis had threatened the possibility of World War III in 1948, 1959, and 1961. The deadly core of the crisis was the pride of the two most powerful nations on earth: the United States and the Soviets. Both sides considered the geographical and political circumstances of this situation a matter of the gravest national security. The crisis was over the legitimate geopolitical status of Berlin, the capital of Hitler’s Germany. Berlin, located 110 miles into East German territory, was occupied by Britain, France, the United States, and the Soviet Union. A non-Communist government in the sovereign state of Communist East Germany was a bone in Soviet throats. Free territory under a negotiated agreement became an American principle worthy of our very existence and survival. Then suddenly it was over when the United States, Britain, France, and the Soviet Union signed an historic agreement enabling Germany to unite once again. That agreement occurred exactly 26 years ago today.
Yes, indeed! A deadly crisis was over and we declared ourselves as winners of the Cold War. At home, Republicans insisted that Ronald Reagan was the key figure in the unification of Germany and of the ultimate end of the Cold War. After all, hadn’t Mikhail Gorbachev responded to President Reagan’s May 1987 demand that he “…tear down that wall”? The Cold War was over and we were both safe and triumphant. What we didn’t fully grasp however was that another international crisis had been born on the other side of the world a month earlier with Saddam Hussein’s invasion of Kuwait. The fruits of that crisis have been 9/11, the invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan, and the birth of ISIL.
International conflict, henceforth, will be a continuous threat to our security as well as an opportunity for progress toward world peace. After all, military conflict invariably fathers unintended and unforeseen political conflict even as it accomplishes victory for a particular nation’s safety, might, and pride. However, we may take some comfort as we strive to solve crises, both foreign and domestic, by recalling how past crises were overcome. Thus, as I see it, September 12th 1990 is as worthy of celebration as are Yorktown, Appomattox, VE Day and VJ Day.
Such recollections or, if you prefer, contemplations may not be as exciting as righteous anger in the face of a looming threat by a Communist or an “evil” caliphate, but knowledge of our success with historic crises may well help us sleep better at night. A better night’s sleep provides sufficient energy to overcome almost anything!
What say you?
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,
EDWIN COONEY
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