It is wrong to say Reagan won the Cold War. However, he did play a major role and provided a strong figure for which NATO and the remainder of our allies could rally behind.
When he took office Russia was in Afghanistan. Communists were gaining foot holds in Central America and the Caribbean. When he came to office the US military was in a major decline and the nation still hurt from Vietnam and the Iranian hostage Crisis. He was a leader and a father figure that was needed in America at the time. With the help of our strong allies he forged a strong front against Communism. We built the B1, the MX, the Pershing 2, started down the road to the largest peace time build up of American Military might in history.
However, he did not do it alone. England, Germany, Canada, Italy, Spain, France, Norway, Belgium, Japan, Australia, Turkey, Denmark, and every one of our allies helped. Then add in a small but determined group in Poland and you have the makings of the end of the Soviet Union. We stopped communists in Grenada, Nicaragua, and Salvador. Cuban forces left Angola. Vietnam pulled out of its neighbors. The US became strong and respected again. We stopped Libya from getting too much power.
BUT!!! None of this would have happened without the help of our allies and without Ronald Reagan.
As far as Frances military record. They never won a war without outside help. Yes, they won battles, but never a war. Yes, we lost Vietnam, but we also won several along the way. Korea was more like a tie, but it is technically still going on.
