Deal with Soviets 'without excessive hopes'
[Letter published in the Holland Sentinel, 29 May 1987]
It must be admitted that the Soviets are acting suspiciously reasonable at the current arms control talks, even proposing the complete elimination of short- and intermediate-range nuclear weapons, accompanied by on-site inspection for verification. Even so, here are two comments.
First, President Reagan's decision to abandon SALT II and his refusal to give up the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI or "Star Wars") appear to be justified. The Soviets would not be offering what looks like a good deal if we had permanently given in to their demands.
Second, do not look a gift horse in the mouth, it is said — but remember, the Trojans would have done well to have examined their gift horse more carefully.
As we get closer to an agreement and as hopes build up in the U.S.A., the Kremlin may introduce some last-minute demands regarding the verification provisions; or the Kremlin may insist that we at least slow down SDI in order to get an agreement.
Gorbachev and company may believe that public opinion, media hysteria, and Congressional pressure will force President Reagan to cave in and that, once an agreement is signed, there will be a decreased level of American expenditure on defense, especially SDI. It is very well known that you can always count on the "liberals" to be a pro-Soviet lobby. "Mr. Gorbachev obviously wants peace. He just signed an agreement. Why should we undermine arms control?"
Deal with the Soviets? Yes, we have to. But I warn you: deal with them without excessive hopes, without illusions, and with a careful eye for con games and swindles. Remember: the Soviets are our enemy and ultimately either they or we will prevail.