Who was the Soviet Union's best leader?

[The Ahemalt Outcasts]

You mean they really had a good one?

[Yootopia]

Khrushchev, for not sucking quite so much as the others, and for exposing some of the worst excesses of the Stalin regime.

[United Russian State]

The only reason that the Red Army "lost" Afghanistan, was due to interference from the Kremlin, and lack of manpower and supplies

Objectives were won, just like when America went into Afghanistan, but the government went stupid. It should of pulled back most of the force [special units], and used air power to take out targets, than sending small amount of special forces to clear out the rest. But instead they left in bluk, than send in more, and "lost"/pullout when the objectives were already fucking done and could of been in more of a support role instead. Fools -.-

Ah well, at least America make same mistake.

As for Khrushchev, how can you people over how fucking stupid he was with USA/NATO?

[Genovia and Teck]

Mikhail Gorbachev

[Tanilk]

MALENKOV for being Christian and probebly had stoped the lack of religious freedom in USSR if he had got the chance 2 continue

[The Final Rome]

They didn't HAVE a best leader. In fact, they had no leader. Everyone had equal power, except for a small government who's members where "Firsts among equals." In theory. In reality, they just didn't have a best leader.

[Ascon]

Gorbachev, for dismantling that big fat box of shit.

... like he did it on purpose...

Gorbachev was overthrown and placed under house arrest. It ain't like he led the revolution, guys. If anything, that was about the time Yeltzin achieved bigtime status and eclipsed Gorbachev almost instantly.

[F1-Insanity]

I do find myself wondering if Gorbachev is performing so strongly in the poll because he was the effective death knell of the Soviet Union... or just because a lot of NSer's probably have him as their only reference point?

Could be both. But there seems to be a misunderstanding, Gorbachev neither dismantled nor wanted to dismantle the Soviet Union. Yeltsin dismantled it by blocking the august 1991 hardliner coup and then ignoring Gorbachev, and signing the december 1991 treaty that dismantled the Soviet Union.

[Grave_n_idle]

I do find myself wondering if Gorbachev is performing so strongly in the poll because he was the effective death knell of the Soviet Union... or just because a lot of NSer's probably have him as their only reference point?

Could be both. But there seems to be a misunderstanding, Gorbachev neither dismantled nor wanted to dismantle the Soviet Union. Yeltsin dismantled it by blocking the august 1991 hardliner coup and then ignoring Gorbachev, and signing the december 1991 treaty that dismantled the Soviet Union.

I wasn't actually saying that he dismantled the Soviet Union - just that a lot of posters might associate him with the end. Maybe - that's what my question was about.

[Shofercia]

I wouldn't say that. Arguing that your country is First World just because of GDP sounds pretty damn cynical and money-hungry. On the other hand it's perfect if you want to work for AIG.

Eh, what? GDP is often associated with the standard of living.

Which is not entirely correct. For instance it would take much more money to reach a certain living standard in the US, than it would to reach that exact living standard in Cuba. The reason? A difference in the price of food, housing, etc. I am not saying that Cuba's better off then America, that would not be true, (unless you're talking about healthcare). I am saying that in order to live comfortably, you would need roughly $100,000 in the US, and only $40,000 in most places of rest of the World. On the other hand in the UK you would need more.

There should also be fair distribution. For instance in Equatorial Guinea, people live like shit, and yet have a higher GDP per capita than Russia. So living standard isn't just about the money, that's what I was getting at, I'm sorry if I overdid it with sarcasm, again

Gorbachev, for dismantling that big fat box of shit.

... like he did it on purpose...

Gorbachev was overthrown and placed under house arrest. It ain't like he led the revolution, guys. If anything, that was about the time Yeltzin achieved bigtime status and eclipsed Gorbachev almost instantly.

Oh come on, we all know Reagan did it

I do find myself wondering if Gorbachev is performing so strongly in the poll because he was the effective death knell of the Soviet Union... or just because a lot of NSer's probably have him as their only reference point?

Could be both. But there seems to be a misunderstanding, Gorbachev neither dismantled nor wanted to dismantle the Soviet Union. Yeltsin dismantled it by blocking the august 1991 hardliner coup and then ignoring Gorbachev, and signing the december 1991 treaty that dismantled the Soviet Union.

I wasn't actually saying that he dismantled the Soviet Union - just that a lot of posters might associate him with the end. Maybe - that's what my question was about.

I think that's true. Because as a leader, he fucking sucked.

[Oslea]

Looking at solely a Western perspective, Gorbachev. Seeing as how he got those freedoms n' all.

Khrushchev from a Soviet perspective. He De-Stalinized everything just to let Soviet citizens breathe a little without loosening the control on the state. Well, Poland and Hungary happened, but... They're just sattelite states.

[Rolamec]

Khrushchev. No one else even comes close.

Why?

It was that shoe banging novel.

[Scriptless]

Stalin.
'Cos he's sexy

[Blitzkrenia]

Stalin.
'Cos he's sexy

He is?

[Imperial Domtopia]

Lenin was the best by far. Did a great job creating better working conditions and liberalising the autocratic Czarist system. Lenin was a hero in terms of civil rights. Khruschev was good, but at this point he was just keeping the Soviet state stable, the ideals of socialism were long gone.

[New Ziedrich]

Stalin.
'Cos he's sexy

He is?

He might have had a full head of hair and an awesome mustache, but he was really short, and his face was pockmarked.

[Burchadinger]

Stalin.
'Cos he's sexy

He is?

He might have had a full head of hair and an awesome mustache, but he was really short, and his face was pockmarked.

[Shofercia]

Looking at solely a Western perspective, Gorbachev. Seeing as how he got those freedoms n' all.

That were taken away by the Mafia pretty rapidly. Russian Journalistic Freedom ended with the murder of Vlad Listyev, the George Washington of Russian journalism. Numerous journalists protesting Gorbachev's actions in Afghanistan, "disappeared". Freedoms my ass.

[Burchadinger]

You mean they really had a good one?

Every country has a bad or good leader.

[South Norwega]

They didn't HAVE a best leader. In fact, they had no leader. Everyone had equal power, except for a small government who's members where "Firsts among equals." In theory. In reality, they just didn't have a best leader.

You do know that best means better than all the rest, but not necessarily good?

[Burchadinger]

They didn't HAVE a best leader. In fact, they had no leader. Everyone had equal power, except for a small government who's members where "Firsts among equals." In theory. In reality, they just didn't have a best leader.

You do know that best means better than all the rest, but not necessarily good?

^This^

[Benzei]

Stalin, although i dont like commies he knows how to run a country, he wasnt fucking around. Trains late? They broke? Stalin doesnt care, you push them and get them there on time or get shot.

[Sypian]

Gorbachev was just dealing with the inevitable it was all coming apart regardless who was leader people wanted change.I kind of like Sypianoff myself.

[Stanff]

It depends. Could the Soviet Union have survived through WWII without Stalin?

Maybe, maybe not. Would they have lost if Trotsky led?

Nah I don't think they would've. Voted Gorbachev based on Perestroika, but would've gone for Trotsky if he was there.

[Sypian]

I don't know if they would have survived the war without Stalin i would have to say probably not ,I saw a biography on the man it was very interesting to say the least,it was a rough time for the Soviet union decisions came at a the price of human blood unfortunately i don't think anyone wanted it there was too much at stake.