Quote Originally Posted by Crocodile View Post
Everything is measured in comparison. What have the Soviet Union done to the Middle East in those glorious days?
It gave a shitload of money to African and Middle Eastern developing states, along with sending civilian specialists - engineers, doctors, constructors- to help with making better living conditions for locals. The more intersting question is what it got in return - nothing tangible, in my opinion, just something to rub into USA face (nuh-nuh-nuh, there are more and more "Socialistic" states), and a lot of meaningless promises. USSR was arguably the only empire, that foolishly invested HUGE money in its "colonies" and allies, instead of draining them dry as any other self-respected empire did.

Well, sure, we imported weapons too. Who did not at the time? ))