By Ross Balano, Kansas City Star Midwest Voices Columnist 2008

Amidst all of the hoopla surrounding the 20th anniversary of the Berlin Wall the two men most responsible have been all but forgotten.

While German Chancellor Angela Merkel and other world dignitaries praised former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev for the fall of the wall, the two men perhaps most responsible, President Ronald Reagan and Pope John Paul II were all but forgotten.

Merkel praised Gorbachev, “You made this possible---you courageously let things happen.”

He let things happen? Is she kidding? Gorbachev had no choice but to let things happen.

Let’s revisit real history for a moment please. The fall of the Berlin Wall and the Soviet Union happened despite Gorbachev not because of him.

When, in Poland, Lech Walesa led his labor union in defiance of Gorbachev and the Soviet Union it was Pope John Paul II, the first Polish born Pope, who spoke out firmly in support. It was John Paul II more than anyone else who bolstered courage among the dissidents and made Gorbachev reluctant to take violent action against Walesa. Because of the Pope the world rallied behind Walesa and Gorbachev was forced to back down.

President Ronald Reagan revived the American military and economy which had been nearly destroyed by incompetent idiot Jimmy Carter. This economic boom and rebuilding of the military was a form of “table stakes poker” pitting Reagan against Gorbachev. Gorby was broke and eventually had to fold. He didn’t allow it, his hand was forced. It was Reagan who went to Berlin and said, “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall.” The world cheered and Gorbachev was left broke and with no choice but to watch communism fall throughout Eastern Europe.

What a shame that the very people who benefitted the most from the fall of the wall choose to recognize Gorbachev, the heir to Lenin, Stalin and Khrushchev while forgetting Reagan, the heir to Washington, Jefferson and Lincoln and Pope John Paul II, the heir to Jesus Christ, St. Peter, and St. Paul.