The Cold War was defined by decades of tension, proxy wars, and ideological battles. The USSR's collapse was a major event, but it was more of a consequence of the Cold War's long-term dynamics than its most significant moment. Think of it like a storm breaking—important, but not the first drop of rain. The real turning points were the decisions made during the arms race, the Berlin Wall, and the many near-misses like the Cuban Missile Crisis. The USSR's end was the climax, not the pivot.