Did the CIA Predict the USSR's Collapse?

The CIA is (in)famous for its involvement in regime changes across the globe, yet beyond their clandestine activities, they're also responsible with providing various predictions on geopolitical developments. The fall of the USSR was one such occurrence, but how successful was the CIA in predicting the Soviet Union's demise?

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Further Reading:

[JohnBrowningsGhost]

I like how the CIAs predictions were basically just every possibility was possible.

[PhilipWerlau]

This channel is criminally undersubscribed for how good the content is.

[wpatrickw]

Ironically, the Chernobyl disaster was first detected was when the Swedish nuclear power plant technician discovered that the radiation levels were higher outside then inside the reactors containment building.

[SamButler]

I like the trivia that Russia wasn't the last to leave the USSR; for a few days Kazakhstan was the entirety of the Soviet Union

[shanemize]

If you had told anyone in Western military or intelligence agencies in the late 1980's that the Soviet Union was going to come apart and cease to exist within the next few years in a peaceful way, they all would have laughed at you. Yet, it definitely happened. Who would a thunk it??? I am sure that they were glad to have been wrong about this one. Another great video! Please keep the outstanding videos coming and God bless you, my friend!

[milliereynolds]

Great stuff as always can’t wait for my next side quest trip.

[SHAHIDKC]

Fun fact : Gorbachev was the youngest member of the communist party.

[SG]

Imagine the faces of CIA employees when they were betting on violent civil war but that one guy who was laughed at everyone turned out be right in predicting peaceful transition of power

[aleattorium]

What a gem, just found this channel and it's so well done. Deserves way way more subscribers.

[namejeff]

Binged all your videos, your production value is insane! Worthy of millions of views youll be there in no time!

[ssa]

It's really weird that they let the ussr die without a fight. A global superpower just dying without a bullet being fired is so unusual.

[skylerbowerbank]

Where the hell has this channel been this whole time
This channel is AMAZING

[tufail]

Also, the expensive and failed war in Afghanistan had severely affected the economy and the military's morale.

[InReverie]

Wow, recognizing that the aftermath of the events that happen 30 years ago are still currently playing out is a trip. It’s crazy to realize that I’m almost as old as the current Russian government.

[Yassified]

Well it wasn't completely bloodless. There were crackdowns in Georgia, Lithuania and Latvia with many dead.

[yuriikovalov]

In my opinion, collapse of ussr is like a slowed bomb. Conflicts did not appear immideatly, but they began appearing in 1992 in Moldova, 1996 in Chechnya, 2008 in Georgia and in 2014 in Ukraine

[AntonPavlovich]

As a russian i always expect some propagandistic kind of viewpoint when a western youtuber talks USSR’s history, but this vid is quite objective and the statements are based on facts. That’s great, keep it up!

[austincrain]

Thanks for this video! It clearly explained how close Gorbachev was to rebranding and saving the union in the face of increasing polarization

[EricNielsen]

I’m a SideQuest fan now. Keep it up fellas!!

[kpjo]

Keep it up!! Your videos are on par with other top history channels! Hope you get there!