Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 beta 3/9/83; site foxvax1.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!genrad!wjh12!foxvax1!minas From: minas@foxvax1.UUCP (P.C. Minasian ) Newsgroups: net.politics Subject: Re: Reagan unjustly maligned on Pershing - (nf) Message-ID: <318@foxvax1.UUCP> Date: Tue, 21-Feb-84 17:12:54 EST Article-I.D.: foxvax1.318 Posted: Tue Feb 21 17:12:54 1984 Date-Received: Sat, 25-Feb-84 04:15:07 EST References: <1595@pur-ee.UUCP> Organization: The Foxboro Co., Foxboro, Mass Lines: 30 As much as I love a chance to misalign Reagan, I feel that the case of the Pershing and Cruise is not so clearly an example (of which there seem, alas, to be millions) of stupidity and belligerence on Ronnie's part. Frankly, I see this example as one of the ironies of history. The United States seemed interested in (at least) using the threat of deployment as a ruse to get the Soviets at the bargaining table. Perhaps this was not the best of means, but, . . . in any case, it wasn't clear that Ronnie was absolutely bent on deployment. The Soviets responded by KGB agitation in Western Europe in fostering the peace movement (having spent Christmas vacation in France and Britain, I had the opportunity to speak with many peace-loving individuals (like myself!) who expressed, in no uncertain terms, that the KGB was clearly largely responsible for much of the organization behind the European peace movement); it was their hope that pressure from the Allies would prevent deployment. The irony? That the peace movement itself (i.e., the massive , repeated demonstrations) are what actually seemed to have forced the issue! The mere fact of the demonstrations left the Allies with no other option but to deploy! The major public relations coup by the Soviet Union, combined with their obvious and covert invovement, left the Allies looking like putty if they "gave in" (God! Wouldn't that just be terrible??!! But seriously, reality is what it is.) Hence, both the Soviet's desires and the sincere initiatives of those Europeans who gave their time for demonstration were subverted by their own means!! Disillusioned that we can't even be sure what we're demonstrating against (or for), phil minasian genrad!wjh12!foxvax1!minas