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From: rohn@randvax.UUCP (Laurinda Rohn)
Newsgroups: net.politics
Subject: Re: We need the arms race
Message-ID: <2234@randvax.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 8-Jan-85 16:14:58 EST
Article-I.D.: randvax.2234
Posted: Tue Jan  8 16:14:58 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 12-Jan-85 01:44:43 EST
References: <733@loral.UUCP>
Organization: Rand Corp., Santa Monica
Lines: 51

> from !loral!rfs (?)
> The Soviets will never attack us unless we attack them first.  Look
> at their history.  They're bassically cowards.  Before world war II
> they attacked small helpless countries on their borders (i.e Poland
> in 1939 (along with hitler)).  Since WW II they've attacked only
> helpless countries DIRECTLY on their borders (Hungary, Checz, Afganastan
> and threatened Poland).  If you think about it they've never gone
> beyond their borders.  The US on the other hand goes acrossed oceans
> and attacks another country.  We have guts.  Sometimes more guts than
> brains.  We should'nt worry about the Soviets as long as we don't
> bother their MOTHERLAND.

I think it's unsafe to assume that they won't attack unless we attack
first.  This all depends on how we perceive each other's posture.  If
the USSR thinks the US is getting superior and will stay superior, they
might just attack as, from their perspective, things will only get worse.
Unless they think the US would never attack, at which time the USSR
might not attack either.  It all depends...

As far as the Soviets never going beyond their borders, if I were a
Czech, I might dispute that.  Tanks rolling through Czechoslovakia is,
to me, going beyond their borders.

> The arms race is good for peace.  We make something then the Soviets
> make it too.  We have more money than they do.  If we keep this up
> they will go BANKRUPT and we win.

I don't think the arms race is good for peace.  Stability, communication,
and a good working relationship are good for peace.  What do we win, by
the way?  And what if we run out of money first?  There is a chance of
that, you know.

>                                    Why do you think they're in Geneva
> this week for arms talk.  Their losing the arms race.  Especially
> in space.

Perhaps they are in Geneva because they are interested in limiting arms
and pursuing peace.  I'm not so sure about them losing the arms race in
space as there really isn't much of one yet.  But maybe they just want
to keep weapons out of space.  So would I.  I don't much care about
their reasons.  As long as each side knows the other is stcking to the
agreement...


					Lauri
					rohn@rand-unix.ARPA
					..decvax!randvax!rohn

The opinions expressed above are mine and do not necessarily bear
any relationship to the opinions of the RAND Corporation or any
other reasonable entity.  (Well?)