Reagan-Grobachev Meeting in Iceland
President Reagan outfoxed the foxy Soviet leader at the Reykjavik meeting by refusing to surrender the U.S. secret weapon program--the Strategic Defense Initiative--for pie-in-the-sky, unreliable Soviet promises.
The best reason for Reagan’s hanging tough on that issue is the great importance that the Soviets attach to what is commonly termed Star Wars. The fact that they consider it is so bad for them, means obviously that it is good for us and we should not give it away.
Reagan made it clear that he does not subscribe to the appeasement policy of “peace at any price” when he said: “We prefer no agreement than to bring home a bad agreement to the United States.”
The Reykjavik meeting served the worthy function of letting the Russians and the world know that although we are a peace-loving nation, we will not be trapped into letting our defensive guards down. With that understanding, meaningful discussions to reach productive and equitable agreements for ending the threat of nuclear warfare can be continued by the two major powers that have most at stake.
ROBERT LEE
Newport Beach
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