ags@pucc-k (Seaman) (11/28/83)
Shortly after the KAL007 disaster, President Reagan made a speech over Voice of America in which he talked directly to the Soviet people about the actions of their government in shooting down the airliner. This was done with no prior warning, so that the broadcast would not be jammed. It seems to me that the current chill in US - Soviet relations dates from about the time of that speech. Granted, the whole KAL007 incident had a lot to do with it, but it seems to me that the Soviets would view that unannounced speech as a particularly dastardly act. Reagan went over the heads of government and talked directly to the people. In so doing, he broke the rules. It seems to me that the Soviets have been going out of their way to be unusually nasty to the US ever since. On more than one occasion, American officials have expressed surprise at responses (or lack thereof) from the Kremlin. Just a thought... Dave Seaman ..!pur-ee!pucc-k!ags