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From: rlr@pyuxd.UUCP (Rich Rosen)
Newsgroups: net.flame
Subject: Re: the bombings will start...
Message-ID: <1533@pyuxd.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 17-Aug-85 09:40:23 EDT
Article-I.D.: pyuxd.1533
Posted: Sat Aug 17 09:40:23 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 23-Aug-85 07:08:08 EDT
References: <3679@decwrl.UUCP>
Organization: Whatever we're calling ourselves this week
Lines: 31

> Todd Jones: I have reason to believe that Ronald would attempt a strike
>    on Russia.
> 
> What reason? I think that this type of paranoid thought pattern is just
> plain stupid. After all if Ronald blew up the world, the effect of starting
> a war with the Soviet Union, none of his rich industrial magnate types
> that put him where he is would be able to bleed the peasants of the 
> world for any more of their meager earnings. Ronald Regan is at least
> smart enough to know who butters his bread.

I don't think it's a "paranoid thought pattern" at all.  Reagan is, let's
face it, a cowboy actor whose image is paramount to him.  Given his jackass
macho attitude, the scenario is entirely possible and frighteningly likely.
The same jackass macho attitude that got him elected by comparing him to
Carter who did "nothing" during the Iran hostage crisis like a "wimp".
(Note however, how wimpy Reagan was in action during the Beirut hostage
crisis.  This didn't stop him from talking tough and keeping up his tough
guy image with total disregard for the safety of the hostages---image was
more important.)

The same attitude can come into play in this very simple scenario.  Reagan's
swaggering act-tough script, intended to show the world what a "man" we
are (??), disturbs the Soviets enough that they take some action themselves
(perhaps equally based on "act-tough" bullshit), "forcing" (???) Reagan
to do something else to show that "America won't be pushed around".
Ad infinitum.  Until the only thing Reagan "must" do to save "face" is
to blow up the world.  (Of course, the shoe could be on the other foot,
as far as who backs whom into what corner, but the effect is the same.)
-- 
"Meanwhile, I was still thinking..."
				Rich Rosen  ihnp4!pyuxd!rlr