Was Reagan an appeaser for negotiating with Gorbachev about tactical nukes?

[yurbud]

A lot of righties say any negotiating with countries like Iran or Venezuela or the designated boogeyman of the moment is just like appeasing Hitler.

The odd thing is, none of these countries we're supposed to be afraid of now have the capacity to invade or annihilate the United States.

By contrast, the Soviets had enough nukes to wipe the US off the map back in the 80s (the Russians and Chinese still do), and though the Soviets were behind us in technology in some ways, they more than made up for it in numbers of tanks, nukes, and other hardware.

And unlike the spread out Soviet Union, the countries we are supposed to be afraid of today are relatively compact, medium-sized ones that would take relatively few of our nukes to incinerate every square inch of. So why should we be more afraid of them than Reagan was of Gorbachev?

If the Soviets could not sustain an arms race, do you think Iran can or Iraq could have even if they had what Bush claimed?

And unlike Iran, the Soviets HAD invaded neighboring countries in the Baltics, Eastern Europe, and Afghanistan.

Why was Reagan negotiating with them NOT appeasement but negotiating with some medium-small country now is?

Democrats need to call bullshit on the Republican talking points and put things in perspective if they want to end the war and the assault on our democracy. I don't think they aren't out of cowardice or stupidity but because too many agree with what Bush is doing, seizing Persian Gulf oil to give it to his cronies on terms they choose.

Also posted to Yahoo Answers:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070910130600AAxAf7Z&r=w

[Captain Hilts]

1. No, the philosophy was that arms deals were usually better for Us....

than for Them.

MBFR was known as More Bombs for Russia rather than Mutual Balanced Force Reductions.

But the philosophy was, arms deals were better for us.

[yurbud]

3. the point is contrast between dealing with big dogs and trembling before purse dogs

[groovedaddy]

2. Because Repubs are hypocrites

just as their numerous closeted gays rail against homosexuality while practicing it.

[On the Road]

4. As Winston Churchill Said:

"I do not maintain diplomatic relations to confer a compliment."

Who are we supposed to negotiate with if not our enemies?

[LeftishBrit]

9. Churchill also said...

that he preferred 'jaw jaw' to 'war war'.

I believe that Yitzhak Rabin said, "We don't need to negotiate with our friends!"

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[dbt]

6. Hi, Texasgunfanatic! WELCOME TO DU!!!!

I hope you enjoy your stay!

:hi:

[yurbud]

8. most of the suicide bombers and beheaders are coming from our good friend Saudi Arabia

Bush hasn't don't much to keep them out.

Polls of Iraqis consistently show little to no sympathy for al Qaeda, but they do support attacks on US troops.


Not incidentally, Saddam did let inspectors back in, which didn't fit the propaganda plan for Iraq, so as soon as we started bombing the Bushies went back to claiming he never let them in.

[dbt]

7. Was Raygun a Surrender Monkey for pulling US troops out of Lebanon

after his dumb ass got 230 of them killed by not occupying the high ground? Just asking...

[yurbud]

10. Like Iraq, I don't see a good way to do those stupid "show the flag" missions