Reagan-Gorbachev Meeting in Iceland
We have just watched Gorbachev completely outclass the United States in handling the bargaining process in Iceland. He used every trick known to the hard sell. He threw the United States off balance by demanding to meet in Iceland instead of on the U.S. home turf. He held Reagan’s feet to the fire by insisting on meeting before the U.S. elections.
Most important, this supposed “pre-summit” was in fact turned into the summit by Gorbachev, thus catching the United States off guard and unprepared. Everything was rushed and had to be done right now--like the old trick of “Buy by midnight tonight and get half off.”
If we are the headquarters of world capitalism, where are our sharp traders? Next time we should send a used car salesman. We’ll come out better.
MARCIA J. BATES
Van Nuys
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