Gorbachev became involved in the conflict because he did not want to get into an arms race with the United States that he could not afford.
President Reagan became involved in the conflict because he wanted to destroy communism. Reagan’s goal was to spread freedom around the world by opposing the spread of Soviet-backed Marxist regimes and stopping containment of Soviet communism (Reagan Doctrine). The strategy was simple: “We win and they lose.” Reagan did not believe in co existing with the Soviet Union, but fundamentally transforming it, rolling back its policies, and defeating communism. Reagan believed that a strategy of economic warfare would force a change, causing new Soviet leaders to embrace a more flexible approach toward …show more content…
By not allowing the media or ruling elite to intimidate him, Reagan challenged the Soviet Union by calling it an “evil empire” in his famous March 8, 1983 speech. President Reagan described the Cold War as a “struggle between right and wrong, good and evil,” demonstrating his belief that the conflict between the West and the Soviet Union was a moral conflict. Two weeks later, on March 23, 1983, President Reagan delivered his address to the nation, stating his plan to develop a missile-defense system called the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), or “Star Wars.” The SDI project imagined a shield in outer space to defend the United States from incoming …show more content…
The objective of the summit was to identify issues and solutions, engage the Soviets regarding the United States’ agenda and demonstrate that dialogue “has created the potential for effective negotiations with the Soviet Union.” Although the two-day meetings did not generate any arms control agreements, Gorbachev agreed to “reduce by half, and eventually eliminate entirely, all intercontinental and intermediate missiles” on the condition that the United States abandons SDI. KGB General Sergei Kondrashey commented that SDI “influenced the situation in the country to such an extent that it made the necessity of seeking an understanding with the West very acute.” Reagan’s advisers pleaded with him to accept Gorbachev’s terms. Knowing that the Soviets had a history of avoiding arms agreements, Reagan walked out of the summit. In Reagan’s autobiography, “An American Life,” the President
President Reagan became involved in the conflict because he wanted to destroy communism. Reagan’s goal was to spread freedom around the world by opposing the spread of Soviet-backed Marxist regimes and stopping containment of Soviet communism (Reagan Doctrine). The strategy was simple: “We win and they lose.” Reagan did not believe in co existing with the Soviet Union, but fundamentally transforming it, rolling back its policies, and defeating communism. Reagan believed that a strategy of economic warfare would force a change, causing new Soviet leaders to embrace a more flexible approach toward …show more content…
By not allowing the media or ruling elite to intimidate him, Reagan challenged the Soviet Union by calling it an “evil empire” in his famous March 8, 1983 speech. President Reagan described the Cold War as a “struggle between right and wrong, good and evil,” demonstrating his belief that the conflict between the West and the Soviet Union was a moral conflict. Two weeks later, on March 23, 1983, President Reagan delivered his address to the nation, stating his plan to develop a missile-defense system called the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), or “Star Wars.” The SDI project imagined a shield in outer space to defend the United States from incoming …show more content…
The objective of the summit was to identify issues and solutions, engage the Soviets regarding the United States’ agenda and demonstrate that dialogue “has created the potential for effective negotiations with the Soviet Union.” Although the two-day meetings did not generate any arms control agreements, Gorbachev agreed to “reduce by half, and eventually eliminate entirely, all intercontinental and intermediate missiles” on the condition that the United States abandons SDI. KGB General Sergei Kondrashey commented that SDI “influenced the situation in the country to such an extent that it made the necessity of seeking an understanding with the West very acute.” Reagan’s advisers pleaded with him to accept Gorbachev’s terms. Knowing that the Soviets had a history of avoiding arms agreements, Reagan walked out of the summit. In Reagan’s autobiography, “An American Life,” the President