[net.politics] Reagan unjustly maligned on Pershing

emjej@uokvax.UUCP (02/15/84)

#R:dciem:-67200:uokvax:5000076:000:228
uokvax!emjej    Feb 11 10:15:00 1984

Many thanks for the reference to the article, but I am confused. My
understanding is that *Science* is a journal of the American Association
for the Advancement of Science. What is such an article doing there?

					James Jones

saj@iuvax.UUCP (02/15/84)

#R:dciem:-67200:iuvax:2000003:000:371
iuvax!scsg    Feb 15 01:34:00 1984


I wouldn't be so quick to absolve Reagan of any blame--not only has he
stubbornly insisted on installing the cruise missiles despite all
obstacles. (part of the NATO agreement was for SERIOUS negotiations to
take place before cruise deployment)-he is installing them everywhere
he can, not just in Europe.  
tim sevener
pur-ee!iuvax!scsg
Indiana University, Bloomington

minas@foxvax1.UUCP (P.C. Minasian ) (02/22/84)

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