Word: mandelbaum
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...Michael Mandelbaum and Strobe Talbott...
...some cases, Talbott and co-author Michael Mandelbaum's superficiality is reflected in a startling failure to substantiate even their simplest statements. The authors hardly support the easy conclusion that the Soviet-American rapprochement in the '70s failed because each nation sought unilateral advantages over the other...
DOWNRIGHT SILLINESS also makes a cameo appearance in the book. Mandelbaum and Talbott portray the Administration's revocation of the Soviet ambassador's limousine privileges as a significant turning point in President Reagan's "counterrevolution" against detente. That's the only concrete example they give of the Administration's cool attitude toward the Soviets. Symbolism may be important, but surely the Administration has taken more significant actions than forcing the ambassador to enter the State Department by the main lobby...
Despite its validity, this analysis of SDI is unusually one-sided. Mandelbaum and Talbott ignore all arguments in favor of Star Wars. A defense system is conceivable, for instance, that would not constitute an impregnable "Astrodome"--to use the authors' inapt analogy--but might be capable of destroying a limited number of missiles launched accidentally by the Soviets or irresponsibly by a third power...
THOUGH TITLED Reagan and Gorbachev and boasting a picture on the cover of the two leaders discussing the fate of the world next to a cozy fireplace, the book lacks discussion of the 1985 Geneva summit and the 1986 Reykjek superpower get-together. It is ultimately about SDI. Mandelbaum and Talbott are guilty of trying to mask a one-sided condemnation of Star Wars in an even-handed discussion of Reagan and Gorbachev...