Newsgroups: comp.misc
Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!hub.toronto.edu!thomson
From: thomson@hub.toronto.edu (Brian Thomson)
Subject: Re: Questions from the Soviets about UNIX
Message-ID: <8901021731.AA00231@beaches.hub.toronto.edu>
Organization: University of Toronto
References: <1277@orion.cf.uci.edu> <1411@cps3xx.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 2 Jan 89 12:31:29 EST

In article <1411@cps3xx.UUCP> usenet@cps3xx.UUCP (Usenet file owner) writes:
>Since the Soviets could not purchase
>this software, (because they have no money that anyone outside of the SU
>would accept), they have little choice in the matter.

I have seen several articles offering this sentiment, although it appears
to be somewhat misdirected.  Rubles are not a valuable international
currency because the Soviet government will not allow them to leave the
country, nor to be traded externally, for fear of losing control of their
artificial exchange rate.  Any monetary difficulties encountered by
Soviets are self-inflicted, and it is unfair to lay the responsibility
for this situation on Western countries, banks, companies, or individuals.
-- 
		    Brian Thomson,	    CSRI Univ. of Toronto
		    utcsri!uthub!thomson, thomson@hub.toronto.edu