I will politely ask you to not be aggressive as my post was not aimed at you but at the Soviet fanboys that believe the Soviets as nothing less than heroes and 1 man Armies.
Fair enough. Sorry late reply.
To elaborate, I'm aligned with this US military quote, Robert Spalding, Brig Gen, USAF (Ret);
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/what-china-dr-rob-spalding-brig-gen-usaf-ret-/
https://twitter.com/robert_spalding/status/1188146505724628992
*SNIP*
So, the next time someone says something about China, politely ask them which one they are referring to. Is it the people, the country or the regime? They are distinct, even though the CCP would like to convince you they are not.
Same for the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany, they were distinct.
Band of Brothers series and CoH1 did a decent job to humanize WW2 soldiers. Being "wrong" as authoritarian followers and "evil" (master puppeteer) is not the same.
As Göring said during the Nuremberg trials, authoritarians believe most people (given the circumstances) can be tricked into voluntary enslavement. This trickery and subjugation of human freewill is evil.
Nuremberg trials:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gustave_Gilbert
Göring: Why, of course, the people don't want war. Why would some poor slob on a farm want to risk his life in a war when the best that he can get out of it is to come back to his farm in one piece? Naturally, the common people don't want war; neither in Russia, nor in England, nor in America, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship.
Gilbert: There is one difference. In a democracy the people have some say in the matter through their elected representatives, and in the United States only Congress can declare wars.
Göring: Oh, that is all well and good, but, voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same way in any country.
To demonstrate how WW2 Germany was "tricked" to accept authoritarianism there was a good social experiment from 1967 California high school.
Within only 5 days history teacher Ron Jones began to feel that the movement had spiraled out of control.
Documentary, Lesson Plan, The story of the Third Wave experiment as told by the students and their teacher, Ron Jones
Based on these real events, a German movie "THE WAVE"/ "DIE WELLE" (2008).
Unrestricted warfare:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unrestricted_Warfare
Yuri Bezmenov, a KGB defecting to the West refered to unrestricted warfare as "ideological subversion":
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuri_Bezmenov
18 U.S. Code CHAPTER 115—TREASON, SEDITION, AND SUBVERSIVE ACTIVITIES
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/part-I/chapter-115
US military (not military-industrial complex) is the only major fighting force on this planet that "pledge allegiance" not just to a country or government but to defend people's sovereignty.
Against all enemies foreign and domestic.
Gen Mark A. Milley (current Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff) did a great speech about their "pledge of allegiance".
Gen Mark A. Milley: Why We Fight
Used in US Army military recruitment;
Gen Mark A. Milley:In this country, all Americans are created free and equal. We will rise or fall based on our merit and we will be judged by the content of our character not the color of our skin that is the core organizing principal of the United States of America and that is why we fight! #USArmy #ArmyValues
The Oath of Enlistment:
Yes, talk is cheap. The proof is in the pudding.
The history of this planet is not for the faint of heart, tyranny is the norm freedom is rare. As long tyranny exists on this planet "we the people" do need a military/organized violence to have a fighting chance.
Based on current world events the sleeping giant (US combined military force) is awakening once more.
This is happening right now.
A few hints;
March 30, 2020
https://denver.cbslocal.com/2020/03/30/colorado-springs-dod-coronavirus-pandemic-troops/
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (CNN) – Some of the most critical US senior military commanders and nuclear and special operations forces are now operating under extraordinary protection measures to ensure that in the event of a sudden security crisis, including any potential nuclear mission, there will be enough healthy troops and leaders to carry out orders as the coronavirus pandemic grows.
These military countermeasures and mobilization go so far beyond just a virus.
High-level military operation. Not to mention military oversight over FEMA and relief funds.
Not WW3, nobody with half a brain really want that. But military sting operations (covertly or not) is very likely.
Sorry long rant, but the context here is important. This is war.