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Although most of our readers would think that fast food is a purely American phenomenon, after viewing the following commercial aired in the mid-1980's, the Russians became insanely jealous and dedided they wanted their own fast-food establishment.  After a failed attempt at Communist fast food themed restaurant called "McBorscht", Soviet leaders decided to simply steal one of these restaurants from America. 

To this end, the USSR sent a specially trained team of commandos to attain one of these restaurants.  As McDonalds was the dominant fast-food restaurant in America, it was assumed to be the best candidate for extraction.  Americans, it was assumed, wouldn't miss one McDonald's out of a billion.*

How dare the Americans mock our lack of fast food!  And why is Colonel Klink the MC for a Russian fashion show?

After sending their forces to commandeer a McDonalds in the US, it was then set up in the streets of Moscow.  Soviet leadership believed that having their own McDonald's would show Russian citizens that Communist countries have all the same things that they do in America.  With it's golden (sickle-like) arches and red base, most Russian peasants -in Soviet leadership's eyes- would think this restaurant was a product of the Soviet Union.

Finally, Comerades, we have attained a McDonalds!

Image: Scrapetv.com

After the McDonalds was successfully installed in Moscow, Russian citizens did indeed believe that it was a Soviet invention.  The golden arches were a clue, however, the long lines as shown below made the Commie peasants think that Soviet leadership had taken the Wendy's from the commercial shown above and turned it into a restaurant with 3 hour wait times.  And, like waiting 3 hours for a ride at Disney World, when they got their burgers, fries, and/or milkshakes, they simply weren't that good.

Once McDonalds arrived in Moscow, people began to realize that a Communist McDonalds was no better than a "Mcborscht" and started to doubt Communism as a political system.  (the lack of color photography didn't help either)

Image

Russian citizens put the blame for this horrible restaurant squarely on the backs of their Communist leadership.  Although this was not the only reason for the colapse of the Soviet union, this failed McDonalds was, without a doubt, a contributing factor.

Some suspect that the CIA had something to do with this failed McDonalds, possibly changing the recipies to make their burgers taste even worse.  This cannot be confirmed, but this embarassment has not been forgotten by Soviet leadership.  Although the US may or may not have been involved in this fast-food sabatoge, like cabbage stew, Russians believe that revenge is best served warm, but, if that's not possible, cold leftovers are perfectly acceptable.

See Also: McDonald's Goes Green, Russia Not Happy

*The Russians misunderstood "billions served" to mean that there were literally billions of McDonald's restaurants.