orb@whuxl.UUCP (SEVENER) (10/16/85)
Al Globus' article pointing out some serious shortcomings of the Soviet military could be repeated in other areas. There is a generalized attempt by American politicians, both Democrats and Republicans, and by the media to paint the Soviets as ten or even twenty feet tall militarily, but ten inches tall economically and socially. This view pervades popular culture and mythology and is even required for graduation from Florida high schools via the course, "Americanism vs. Communism". Such a view often does not stand scrutiny when examining the facts. For example: > > > > The Soviets are very shrewd, patient and careful. They seem to > > pick on the weakest points where they can achieve maximal gains > > with minimal risks. > Let's examine this proposition in various areas around the world. After 1949 there was a general purge of China experts in the State Dept. because of the whole argument of "Who Lost China to the Worldwide Communist Conspiracy?". McCarthyism arose partly in response to this perceived strategic catastrophe which required a scapegoat as well as the Soviets' development of their own atomic bomb. So where is China now in the "Worldwide Communist Conspiracy"? Expanding trade and ties with the US while beginning to implement free market policies in some areas of their economy. Meanwhile the Soviets are forced to station over half their men at the Sino-Soviet border to defend against their fellow in the "Worldwide Communist Conspiracy". Over a decade ago Egypt had Soviet military advisers, Soviet military equipment and close ties with the Soviet Union. Egypt is one of the key countries in the Middle East-where are the Soviet advisers now? Egypt booted them out some time ago. Now Egypt is our ally. (at quite a cost in $$$$ but that's the price of friendship...) Angola was another horrible example of the "Worldwide Communist Conspiracy" - after it fell and accepted Cuban troops we were braced for the worst by rightwing pronouncements. And, for those capitalist interests which so defend the rightwing things were indeed initially terrible- all American corporations were booted out of Angola as representatives of the capitalist pigs. But within months Gulf Oil and friends were right back in Angola extracting their oil. Ironically enough it is now our "ally" South Africa that recently blew up Gulf oil sites. Yugoslavia long ago went its own way separately from the Soviet Union- Truman even sent them aid after making a break from the USSR. If we were not so pigheaded I am sure that Cuba too would much prefer trade and ties with the US 90 miles away rather than send sugar hundreds of miles over an entire ocean. The head of the Italian Communist Party condemned the Soviets' invasion of Afghanistan- not only have the Soviets lost support of some key strategic countries they have also lost their grip over the Communist parties in Europe. This is not to say the Soviets have had no successes- it is simply to point out they have had notable failures. The world is far more complex than Reagan and others vision of a "Worldwide Communist Conspiracy" headquartered in Moscow. tim sevener whuxn!orb