Soviet Right Saw the Nation in Full Retreat

To the Gang of Eight and their supporters, it appeared that Gorbachev was weakening national security, destroying the Union, trashing the Communist Party and moving away from the communist economic system, destroying the union and allowing unrestrained and uncensored criticism of previously sacrosanct Soviet leaders and institutions. In short, Gorbachev threatened most of what old-guard Communists had worked their entire adult lives to build and maintain. There could be only one response to this threat: Remove Gorbachev from office.