Quote:
Originally posted by rsl12
slightly off topic, but...
funny you should think reagan was the 'main reason' for the end of the cold war. i would place more money, much more money, on gorbachev.
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I actually said "probably the main reason". And I didn't mean this as a compliment in any way.
Gorbachev reacted to the massive US military build-up. He realized the USSR was incapable of competing. His only option was to reform the system, reduce arms (hence START and SALT II etc) or jump right in and go to war. Note that is it reported that several hawks in the GRU and Soviet military actually favoured this.
Reagan brought us closer to war than anyone else but Kennedy during the Cuba Missile Crisis. However, not many people know this and the paradoxical result is that it all ended peacefully.
Of course, things are a LOT more complex than just this, but you get the idea...
Mr Mephisto