The Berlin Wall Fell 20 Years Ago Today

For those of us old enough to remember when it was built it was a pretty big deal:

On Nov. 9, 1989, the communist East German government announced that all citizens would be permitted to visit West Berlin and West Germany, officially ending half a century of militarily enforced division. As the news spread, crowds of Eastern and Western Germans rushed to the Berlin Wall, where they met on top in peaceful celebration.

The fall of the Berlin Wall -- the ultimate symbol of Cold War tensions and division -- began the process of German reunification and precipitated the downfall of other communist regimes across Eastern Europe. Germany was officially reunited on Oct. 3, 1990.

So, why did the wall finally come down? This guy had a lot to do with it:

Unfortunately, freedom for millions wasn't enough for Obama to celebrate so he won't be in Berlin today to join the festivities. He had better things to do presiding over the socialization of our health care system.

Reagan said "Tear down this wall!". Obama would say "Hey,can we get one of these back home?"

I remember when the wall fell. I think a great many of us thought we were ushering in a new era of peace and prosperity. But that didn't last long. In 1990 Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait, kicking off the Gulf War in 1991 and since then the wave of radical Islamic terrorism and two more wars.

Today the Russians are saber-rattling again and some of the countries freed after the collapse of the Soviet Union are again being threatened.

So much for peace and prosperity.

And who is getting credit for the fall of the wall today in Berlin? The guy standing next to German Chancellor Angela Merkel is...wait for it...Mikhail Gorbachev, the guy who saw his empire crumble after the wall fell. Talk about rewriting history...