Able Archer 83

[Angus]

What Moray said.
I never understood the USSR side in their paranoia of attack, when their defence plan was in shambles. There was basically...what? Just an offensive plan?
The defences in W Europe were all defensive! Calculating that the red steam roller would get going.
A friend of mine was actually a border patroller at the German borders.
He told me there were no defences. However, if the Americans or the Western-Germans would enter, they wouldn't get back
"We couldn't stop anything except from getting out" he said.

edit, my text not being clear enough.
Reagan was baffled with the USSR expecting an attack from the West. While the USSR plan was mostly or all offensive, this was still the case. I never got this properly, but I belive Boroda will coma en explain

[AKIron]

Originally posted by MORAY37
I agree.. the whole story is scary.

Simply perplexing, why anyone would think that making the other side think they were about to be mushroomed, just to see how they reacted, is a good idea on any level.

Reagan's surprise that the Russians truly feared the U.S. in a first strike is kind of humorous... and dangerous.  He truly treated the world as though he stood on the moral high ground at all times.  "What, they think we'd actually hit them first???"  When a guy points a loaded gun at you...common sense dictates the bullet might be next.  Shows how surprisingly ignorant people can be, at all levels.

Nice post.

Do you think there weren't loaded guns pointed both ways for decades? Common sense says that if either party pulls the trigger everyone dies. Turns out Reagan was right, the Soviets weren't suicidal afterall.

[Shifty]

Originally posted by MORAY37

Critical thinking and comprehension are not strong suits on these boards.

Then maybe you should invest less in self admiration.

[MORAY37]

Originally posted by Shifty
Then maybe you should invest less in self admiration.

?Self admiration?

Point this out, somewhere, please.

[MORAY37]

Originally posted by AKIron
Are you saying that you were not  blaming Reagan for pushing the Soviets into almost destroying the world? Sure sounded like it to me.

It simply amazed me that Reagan was surprised the other side actually thought we might attack. That's all I said. Not anti Reagan...anti nothing . Simply a general observation. THAT's ALL.

[Ripsnort]

Originally posted by Shifty
Then maybe you should invest less in self admiration.

Originally posted by MORAY37
?Self admiration?

Point this out, somewhere, please.

Originally posted by MORAY37

Critical thinking and comprehension are not strong suits on these boards.

By implying that others do not have critical thinking and comprehension is to say that you have them, and others lack them.  If you need help understanding this sort of social psychology further, PM me and perhaps I can help you.

[AKIron]

Originally posted by MORAY37
It simply amazed me that Reagan was surprised the other side actually thought we might attack. That's all I said. Not anti Reagan...anti nothing . Simply a general observation. THAT's ALL.

You went on to talk about common senseand ignorance. Were you not implying that if Reagan were surprised he must not have had any?

[AKIron]

Predators don't go after the strongest prey, they go after the weakest. I think only Boroda, and perhaps Viking, would argue that the Soviet Union wasn't predatory. Had we another term of Carter I think we would all be either dead or facing a much greater threat today.

[MORAY37]

Originally posted by Ripsnort
By implying that others do not have critical thinking and comprehension is to say that you have them, and others lack them.  If you need help understanding this sort of social psychology further, PM me and perhaps I can help you.

It is quite fair to point out that people lack comprehension skills, when i say.. "I was surprised that Reagan had no idea the Russians were fearfull of an attack from the United States."  

That is a statement.  The only thing taken from it, should be.... "Moray is surprised Reagan had no idea the Russians were fearful of an attack..."

Not...

Yes, evil Reagan!  

Are you saying that you were not blaming Reagan for pushing the Soviets into almost destroying the world? Sure sounded like it to me.

Do you think there weren't loaded guns pointed both ways for decades? Common sense says that if either party pulls the trigger everyone dies. Turns out Reagan was right, the Soviets weren't suicidal afterall.

Critical thinking would tell you that my first statement was only that.  There was no negative slant to it.. only that I was surprised the individual in question actually was unaware that a military buildup would make the other side think we were getting ready to attack.  If you read more than that into it... You really have issues.

PM you?  LOL.  Rip, no offense, but no.

[AKIron]

Originally posted by MORAY37
Critical thinking would tell you that my first statement was only that.  There was no negative slant to it.. only that I was surprised the individual in question actually was unaware that a military buildup would make the other side think we were getting ready to attack.  If you read more than that into it... You really have issues.

PM you?  LOL.  Rip, no offense, but no.

If you hadn't followed up with the common sense jab.... Perhaps if you wrote a bit more succinctly you wouldn't suffer so much misunderstanding? Maybe you'd just rather believe everyone else is too dense to understand you?