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Unscheduled Muse
Author: TriSec    Date: 10/11/2017 11:40:52

Good Morning.

On this date in 1986, then-President Reagan was meeting with Secretary Gorbachev in Reykjavik, Iceland.

Do you remember how significant this particular summit meeting was?



In 1986, Gorbachev had proposed banning all ballistic missiles, but Reagan wanted to continue research on the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), which involved the militarization of outer space. Yet Soviet suspicion of SDI continued, and U.S.-Soviet relations — already strained by the failure of the Geneva Summit the previous year — were further strained by the Daniloff-Zakharov espionage affair.

At Reykjavík, Reagan sought to include discussion of human rights, emigration of Soviet Jews and dissidents, and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Gorbachev sought to limit the talks solely to arms control. The Soviets acceded to the "double-zero" proposal for eliminating INF weapons from Europe, as initially proposed by President Reagan in November 1981 (INF denoting "Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces" as distinct from ICBMs, or intercontinental ballistic missiles). The Soviets also proposed to eliminate 50% of all strategic arms, including ICBMs, and agreed not to include British or French weapons in the count. All this was proposed in exchange for an American pledge not to implement strategic defences for the next ten years, in accordance with SALT I.

The Americans countered with a proposal to eliminate all ballistic missiles within ten years, but required the right to deploy strategic defences against remaining threats afterwards. Gorbachev then suggested eliminating all nuclear weapons within a decade. Gorbachev, however, citing a desire to strengthen the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty (ABM Treaty), added the condition that any SDI research be confined to laboratories for the ten-year period in question. Reagan argued that his proposed SDI research was allowed by any reasonable interpretation of the ABM treaty, and that he could not forget the pledge he made to Americans to investigate whether SDI was viable. He also promised to share SDI technology, a promise which Gorbachev said he doubted would be fulfilled, as the Americans would not even share oil-drilling technology.

Some, including Reagan staffer Jack F. Matlock, Jr., attribute Reagan’s refusal to compromise on SDI testing to a mistaken belief that the proposed restrictions would be detrimental to the program, whereas in reality, Matlock contends, they would have had little effect on research that was still in its very early stages.

The talks finally stalled, Reagan asking if Gorbachev would "turn down a historic opportunity because of a single word," referring to his insistence on laboratory testing. Gorbachev asserted that it was a matter of principle, and the summit concluded.


Although the specific summit ended inconclusively, it laid the groundwork for the INF treaty, and started the Soviet Union down the path towards it's ultimate dissolution.

I had to pinch myself just now, but I am longing for the Reagan Era, when it was still possible for our president to meet with our ideological enemy and discuss peace.


 
 

29 comments (Latest Comment: 10/11/2017 22:07:10 by BobR)
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Comment by BobR on 10/11/2017 12:57:02
Republicans revere Reagan, yet they still support his personality-opposite currently occupying the White House. It's bizarre.

Comment by wickedpam on 10/11/2017 13:00:19
Morning

Up until now we've have mostly very charming and cordial presidents. The angry orange is the so opposite of that I don't think the work exists yet.

Comment by Scoopster on 10/11/2017 13:00:47
Mornin' all...

I really have to admit I've been feeling really worn out by everything going on lately. More often than not lately I find myself keeping my distance from sources of news because I don't want to feel angry, upset or fearful about the things that are happening. I honestly can't even stand to listen to his voice anymore - even with Dubya, I could at least still listen to him even tho I didn't like him & thought he was a war criminal. This guy is so deliberately rude & brazen & completely clueless that the moment a clip of him comes on the radio I just shut it off.

And as a result of all that I dive harder into the things that make me feel more at ease - games, movies, anime, pot, and more recently my daily evening walks and cleaning up the yard of my apartment building.

Comment by Raine on 10/11/2017 13:27:56
Good Morning!

and Eminem Rocks.

Comment by wickedpam on 10/11/2017 13:38:28
Quote by Raine:
Good Morning!

and Eminem Rocks.



ok, so I just finally saw the video..... is it normal to get emotional about rap and want to cry, cause I'm a little weepy. That was pretty freaking amazing.

Comment by Raine on 10/11/2017 13:38:32
. THIS:


He knows who he is. But sumtimes Uhav2 wait & compare notes w/ others who’ve been victimized in order 2gain a position of strength. (13cont)


Comment by Raine on 10/11/2017 13:39:43
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Raine:
Good Morning!

and Eminem Rocks.



ok, so I just finally saw the video..... is it normal to get emotional about rap and want to cry, cause I'm a little weepy. That was pretty freaking amazing.
It was mesmerizing.

that he did that with no beats (aside from his thoghts) shows how good he is at what he does.

That's true talent.


Comment by BobR on 10/11/2017 14:09:32

Also, President Dwayne Elizondo Mountain Dew Herbert Camacho in Idiocracy

Comment by Mondobubba on 10/11/2017 14:41:23
Good morning!

The centenarian aunt who lives in Santa Rosa has been evacuated and is doing well. She is a bit put out, as one could imagine. No status on the state of her dwelling though.

Comment by Scoopster on 10/11/2017 14:50:46
Comment by BobR on 10/11/2017 14:51:49
while waiting in line for a flu shot, got to chat with my former House congressman. He used to live just down the street from us (probably not in the same timeframe as us). He said he cannot afford to buy a place in our neighborhood. That is certainly discouraging for us.

Comment by Raine on 10/11/2017 15:48:04
Quote by Mondobubba:
Good morning!

The centenarian aunt who lives in Santa Rosa has been evacuated and is doing well. She is a bit put out, as one could imagine. No status on the state of her dwelling though.

I am really happy to hear this.


Comment by Raine on 10/11/2017 15:57:33
So Dolt is REALLY off the chain this morning.



Comment by Mondobubba on 10/11/2017 16:03:09


Oh! Local shenanigans featuring Ed Ball. This was about the same time he was involved the longest strike in US history with the FEC (Florida East Coast RR). I'm not surprised that he was part of this effort to buy the station.

Comment by Raine on 10/11/2017 16:07:25
Comment by Raine on 10/11/2017 16:17:34
Facebook and instagram in many parts of the globe right now is down.

Comment by BobR on 10/11/2017 16:18:47
Quote by Raine:
Facebook and instagram in many parts of the globe right now is down.

Meanwhile - productivity is soaring...

Comment by TriSec on 10/11/2017 16:21:13


And the irony is, the NFL as a private company, COULD require everyone to stand for the anthem and it wouldn't be unconstitutional. That it's they who are standing up for the First Amendment speaks louder than any orange orangutan could possibly imagine.



Comment by Mondobubba on 10/11/2017 16:22:59
Quote by Raine:
So Dolt is REALLY off the chain this morning.



What now?

Comment by Raine on 10/11/2017 16:49:37
Quote by TriSec:


And the irony is, the NFL as a private company, COULD require everyone to stand for the anthem and it wouldn't be unconstitutional. That it's they who are standing up for the First Amendment speaks louder than any orange orangutan could possibly imagine.

and the idiot isn't aware they are no longer tax exempt.


Comment by TriSec on 10/11/2017 18:51:43
Well, there goes the neighborhood.

I've long thought Venturing was the future of Scouting. This may actually be the death knell for the Girl Scouts, though.



Comment by Raine on 10/11/2017 19:17:03
From vanity fair:
Even before Corker’s remarks, some West Wing advisers were worried that Trump’s behavior could cause the Cabinet to take extraordinary Constitutional measures to remove him from office. Several months ago, according to two sources with knowledge of the conversation, former chief strategist Steve Bannon told Trump that the risk to his presidency wasn’t impeachment, but the 25th Amendment—the provision by which a majority of the Cabinet can vote to remove the president. When Bannon mentioned the 25th Amendment, Trump said, “What’s that?” According to a source, Bannon has told people he thinks Trump has only a 30 percent chance of making it the full term.




Comment by TriSec on 10/11/2017 19:18:47
"Preserve, Protect, and Defend the Constitution of the United States".

Every member of the military takes this oath, too.

Never mind 'extraordinary constitutional measures'. He's lucky there haven't been tanks rolling down Pennsylvania Avenue thus far.



Comment by Scoopster on 10/11/2017 19:38:14
You know, I can't wait for the day NBC gets its revenge. I can't wait to watch them sue the shit outta

All this trash talking from one of their former on-air employees, saying all kinds of things that are 100% false & libelous, and some things I'm sure would be a violation of confidentiality in whatever contract(s) he signed as part of hosting his crappy reality show. And let's not forget non-stop slandering and sexual harassment of NBC rank & file employees and executives.

Comment by Raine on 10/11/2017 19:54:42
Quote by TriSec:
"Preserve, Protect, and Defend the Constitution of the United States".

Every member of the military takes this oath, too.

Never mind 'extraordinary constitutional measures'. He's lucky there haven't been tanks rolling down Pennsylvania Avenue thus far.

HE wants that to happen.


Comment by BobR on 10/11/2017 22:07:10
Quote by Raine:
Quote by TriSec:
"Preserve, Protect, and Defend the Constitution of the United States".

Every member of the military takes this oath, too.

Never mind 'extraordinary constitutional measures'. He's lucky there haven't been tanks rolling down Pennsylvania Avenue thus far.

HE wants that to happen.

I think TriSec meant to take him away