Word: trooped
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...agreement between the Soviet Union and the U.S. that will allow 30,000 more American troops than Soviet ones to be stationed in Europe was announced last week in what has become standard fashion in the fast-moving Gorbachev era: a casual aside. During a discussion about German unification in Ottawa, Soviet Foreign Minister Eduard Shevardnadze interrupted himself, looked across the table at U.S. Secretary of State James Baker and said, "Oh, by the way." Shevardnadze then proceeded to report that Moscow had approved George Bush's plan that would permit the two superpowers to maintain 195,000 troops each...
...stuck to its guns on both principle and practicality. Establishing a manpower parity sends out the wrong message, Washington contends, since U.S. forces are in Europe by the invitation of host countries and Soviet troops are occupying forces. As a practical matter, additional American forces are needed because, instead of pulling back a relatively short distance across land as the Soviets will do, the U.S. will be withdrawing thousands of miles across an ocean. Any future troop buildup in Europe would thus require greater effort by Washington than by Moscow. Most U.S. analysts read the Soviet stand-down...
Only three weeks ago, President George Bush proposed cutting Soviet and American troop levels in the heart of Europe to 195,000 each, with the U.S. allowed an extra 30,000 in bases elsewhere in Europe. The following week Moscow said no, insisting on absolute parity. Last week, faced with demands for total withdrawal of Soviet troops from the soil of several East European allies, Moscow agreed. "We're dealing with historic change," Bush said. "It's very, very fast. We weren't aware on Monday that ((we)) were going to have a deal on Tuesday...
...Democratic retreat created an opening for gleeful Republicans, who found themselves in the unaccustomed role of Social Security's staunchest defenders. Says a Republican leader: "As usual, ((the Democrats)) began flapping around and knocking each other down like the F Troop of politics." To the consternation of Democratic leaders, G.O.P. lawmakers began distributing campaign buttons with the slogan SAVE SOCIAL SECURITY. VOTE REPUBLICAN. George Bush also weighed in, repeating the pledge made in his State of the Union Address that he would not "mess around" with Social Security. "This is an effort to get me to try to raise taxes...
...expected Moscow to ask for even deeper cuts in troop strength, so the simple parity demanded by Gorbachev seemed almost certain to find approval in Washington, especially since the U.S. has tried to eliminate the Soviet asymmetrical advantage in conventional forces for 16 years. Baker called Gorbachev's counteroffer "very close to the President's proposal." It could all make for a satisfying summit in Washington next June...