Word: sovietism
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Dates: during 1970-1979
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Trying to reassure Europeans who worry whether the U.S. would come to their assistance in case of a Soviet attack, National Security Adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski told a meeting of the Atlantic Treaty Association in Washington: "Let there be no question about our commitment and our determination to help defend Europe by all means necessary-nuclear and conventional. There are no conceivable circumstances in which we would not react to a security threat directed at our allies in Europe...
...need for maintaining Western unity was underscored after Soviet Leader Leonid Brezhnev delivered a speech in East Berlin marking the 30th anniversary of the founding of East Germany. Brezhnev warned that the new NATO weapons would "radically alter the strategic situation on the Continent," and "poison the international atmosphere." He singled out West Germany for a special threat: "It would not be difficult to imagine what consequences would await her if this weaponry was ever put to use by its owners...
After brandishing the stick, Brezhnev proffered a meager carrot. He said that the number of Soviet medium-range nuclear missiles aimed at Europe would be reduced if the NATO weapons were not deployed. He added that the U.S.S.R. would unilaterally withdraw up to 20,000 Soviet troops plus 1,000 tanks and other military hardware from East Germany within the next twelve months...
Western leaders were unimpressed with Brezhnev's offer. Sounding more resolute than usual, President Carter said at a press conference that the Soviet proposal was "not quite as constructive as at first blush it seems to be. I think it's an effort designed to disarm the willingness or eagerness of our allies adequately to defend themselves. In my judgment, the decision ought to be made to modernize the Western allies' military strength and then negotiate with a full commitment and determination mutually to lower armaments on both sides...
Western military experts pointed out that the reduction of the number of Soviet missiles aimed at Europe would be meaningless if they are replaced by missiles with more warheads, a current Soviet practice. The removal of 20,000 troops from East Germany would still leave 400,000 to 500,000 Soviet servicemen in the country. The withdrawal of 1,000 tanks would leave 6,000 Soviet tanks. Says a West German foreign ministry official: "Strategically, this doesn't mean a damn thing. The numbers are so huge that this is a small bite." The Soviets, moreover, could pull...