After the KAL downing, the Soviets were convinced that Reagan was going to order a first strike. Soviet defenses incorrectly registered incoming missiles. If not for a low-level Soviet soldier questioning the data, the Soviet Union would have launched. The event spooked both sides and Reagan softened his rhetoric. The details were revealed when the Soviet archives were opened after 1991.
He also damn near got us into a nuclear war… which is a good example that foreign policy is a fucking messy endeavor and always comes with unforeseen consequences. The future is always a tough gamble. It’s easy to judge past actions.
In the Russian-government-controls-discussion department… a Russian friend related that if the word “war” is used in communication, the communication is abruptly cut off. She is here in the states, so I don’t if that applies to general communication in Russia or just external to internal.
A long time ago we took in for a few weeks an exchange student from Uzbekistan. She had Asian features but also had blue eyes and freckles. Her great-grandfather had been a Polish officer who was captured and he and his family were sent to Uzbekistan. The officer and his wife died leaving a young daughter who was sold to be a wife for a wealthy Uzbek. The daughter was the exchange student’s grandmother.
In case anyone wants to read another view point concerning Putin’s thinking. I’ve subscribed to Russian Life for years… they sent an email out today stating they would be suspending publication out of fear for the safety of their correspondents in Russia. https://www.russianlife.com/stories/online/why-putin-invaded-ukraine/?goal=0_2e99ba62b2-aff19223f1-191233569&mc_cid=aff19223f1&mc_eid=690e8fa84a
Good advice. If you rope drop and use Genie+ you will be fine. Also, don’t go in thinking you will do everything. There is so much to do now you have to set priorities.