I watched -- and worked in the aftermath of -- the collapse of the Soviet empire in '89, '90, 91.
I tried to encourage, at the time, through my tenuous links in politics and policy, a dramatic response to help the Eastern European and Russian people shift to democracy, via a sort of Marshall Plan.
But alas, this was during Bush Sr.'s short tenure as president.
It was, at the time, the biggest missed opportunity in foreign policy I'd ever seen. We could have had their friendship forever. World unity was possible.
Instead, we let "the market" lead the way. And so the Mafia and the KGB took over.
We have a new opportunity.