[ he can't help but grin a little at that, noticing her expression. good.

(still, he hasn't told her anything that he might hide back home) ]

I was actually the commander in my area. Had a chance to be a General, but I preferred being on the ground with my men. [ well, that... and it was easier for him to disappear from time to time when he was just an officer. it's far harder to make excuses when you're a general. ] My country tried to invade another, to support a government of their choice. If you ask me, it was a huge mistake.

[ and he's sure it's one of the reasons the Soviet Union was going to be brought down. ]