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Pastimes : Let's Talk About Our Feelings!!!
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To: Dayuhan who wrote (51029)8/13/1999 4:11:00 PM
From: Michael M  Read Replies (2) of 108807
 
Hi Steven -- we're probably separated by more than a bunch of time zones today. Hope you got through Friday the 13th without a problem.

Given your strong personal animus toward Reagan, I have become curious what one or two modern presidents (Truman onward) merit your approval and why. Names and one or two liners would be fine, if you're ever in the mood.

Re. defense spending/posturing in the context of a Soviet economic tailspin -- I think it's well to recall all the fighters who have come off the ropes to land many solid and punishing blows, if not actually win the bout. IMPO, Reagan would have been grossly negligent not to exploit Soviet economic weakness.

Having been party to one or two conferences, negotiations and communique's, I am of the strong opinion that governments waste a hell of a lot of time in pursuit of the perfectly turned phrase or non-threatening action that will "send a signal" to the other guys. I've not known many players who took the other side's "signals" very seriously, yet many persist in believing that their own are "just the ticket."

Reagan got the job done because he got the check book out and started spending money on real things that were not doable by the Soviet Union. He sent an eloquent "signal" that cut straight through linguistic, cultural and parochial political considerations.

I will close by noting that all military forces are "wasteful" in a sense -- especially modern ones. The idea is that you never want to use the thing in the first place. And, in all but the worst cases, you only use, say, 10 percent of it 10 percent of the time.

Gotta have 'em.

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