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Again, the French perspective on this is quite different, and, as you probably remember, an important step in that game was Mitterrand's famous speech in the Bundestag to support the Pershing missiles.

That did call the Russians's bluff, because with France on board the idea became a lot less controversial.

And from what I remember, it made sense then to react to the SS20s.

In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes

by Jerome a Paris (jeromeguillet@yahoo.fr) on Sat Jan 5th, 2008 at 06:42:52 PM EST
[ Parent ]
That did call the Russians's bluff,

Well, did Andropov respond by going into talks? Did Chernenko? If that was merely calling the Soviet's bluff, it didn't achieve much.

And from what I remember, it made sense then to react to the SS20s.

Do you remember arguments about movability and multiple warheads? Those aren't qualitative changes.

*Traitor*, n.
A benighted individual who perceives an illusory distinction between serving his nation and abetting the criminals who govern it.

by DoDo on Sat Jan 5th, 2008 at 06:52:00 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Having checked, even the claim of bluff seems less tenable. I find that in July 1982, the American and Soviet chief negotiator reached a compromise about mutual short-range nuclear disarmament in Europe, which was subsequently rejected by both governments.

*Traitor*, n.
A benighted individual who perceives an illusory distinction between serving his nation and abetting the criminals who govern it.
by DoDo on Sat Jan 5th, 2008 at 06:57:32 PM EST
[ Parent ]
to be fair, i don't remember enough.

In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes
by Jerome a Paris (jeromeguillet@yahoo.fr) on Sat Jan 5th, 2008 at 07:14:57 PM EST
[ Parent ]
I meant to flag this:

the French perspective

One French perspective.

*Traitor*, n.
A benighted individual who perceives an illusory distinction between serving his nation and abetting the criminals who govern it.

by DoDo on Sat Jan 5th, 2008 at 06:58:44 PM EST
[ Parent ]
sorry.

In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes
by Jerome a Paris (jeromeguillet@yahoo.fr) on Sat Jan 5th, 2008 at 07:15:18 PM EST
[ Parent ]

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