Quote Originally Posted by MrG
I don't dispute any of your history about cosmonauts, the first ICBMs, who had the best rocket technology (probably by minds looted from Germany after WWII, like we did) etc. I just don't know.
They had german rocket scientists too. But unlike the USA they just let them do designs. Those designs were then studied and the actual rockets designed and built by Russians, or better Soviet citizens. Not few came from Ukraine.

Quote Originally Posted by MrG
I have clear memories of the 50s, the Cold War, Russian Bears, Atom Bombs, duck and cover, but no where do I recollect Russians being characterized as a bunch of dumb potato eaters.
My memory is most clear. I lived in Berlin and felt the direct menace of the Russian Bear every day. Not even all the bad things the US is doing can ever erase the gratefulness I feel for being protected from that. As angry as I sometimes get.