The west’s response to those near-miraculous years was a combination of “You’re free now. Within a couple of decades, with the considerable help of some of its erstwhile antagonists, West Germany had undergone its “economic miracle”, rebuilt and was a stable democracy. The results are plain for all to see; Trump, Erdogan, Xi, Kim Jong-un and Putin (and also Brexit). History won’t be kind on those men (or Brexit), but it will also be harsh on the incompetent and shortsighted western politicians who helped create them. Will GobleRayleigh, Essex• Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com• Read more Guardian letters – click here to visit gu.com/letters

Source: The Guardian December 10, 2017 18:45 UTC