There is no way that the United States could have wiped out communism. despite their best efforts in the cold war their crusade for democracy failed. The Cold War lasted nearly 50 years and put the United States no closer to their goal at the end of it. The cold war was better than world war III and better option. although peace would have been the best option as many other countries suffed and still suffer from the side effects of the cold war. the cold war mass produced weapons which is where all terrorist weapons come from.