Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!csd4.milw.wisc.edu!leah!itsgw!brspyr1!miket
From: miket@brspyr1.BRS.Com (Mike Trout)
Newsgroups: comp.misc
Subject: Re: USSR International Computer Club (was: Information on the ICC)
Summary: USSA or USR...
Message-ID: <5360@brspyr1.BRS.Com>
Date: 31 Jan 89 17:10:36 GMT
References: <10127@well.UUCP> <1315@orion.cf.uci.edu> <810@afit-ab.arpa> <853@afit-ab.arpa>
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Organization: BRS Info Technologies, Latham NY
Lines: 39

In article <853@afit-ab.arpa>, wbralick@afit-ab.arpa (William A. Bralick) writes:
> If one's force structure is defensive in nature, and your doctrine is
> based on defending territority, then you are only a hostile lethal threat
> to those who would seek to acquire your territory by force.  If you have
> a force structure that is offensive in nature, and your doctrine is
> based on conquering territory, then you are a hostile lethal threat
> to everyone around you.
> 
> Therefore, defense spending is not based on the _same_ thing.

I'm having a hard time understanding how US defense spending is based on
defending territory and USSR defense spending is based on conquering territory.
Admittedly, the military methods of the USSR are far more offensive than the
USA's, but that is a military doctrine--not a political one.  I'll also concede
the example of Central Europe, where a conventional war would probably see
Warsaw Pact forces on the offensive and NATO forces on the defensive.

But I can't see how you can state that the US territorial doctrine is
fundamentally different from that of the USSR.  The USA has no problem invading
places "in the national interest," just as the USSR.  Witness Grenada, Beirut
Phase II, mining Nicaraguan harbors, Indochina, Central America for the last
century, etc.  I'm sure the Soviet point of view allows no distinction between 
US troops in South Korea and Soviet troops in Afghanistan.  If the same things 
were happening in Mexico as were happening in Afghanistan in 1979, the USA 
would have invaded Mexico.

Both sides fear attack and invasion from the other, and both sides will take
whatever steps are deemed necessary to prevent and discourage that attack.
Methods used to keep the other guys off balance may range from CIA removal of
legitimately elected governments to Soviet armed occupation.

Undoubtedly the members of the Kollegiya of the Soviet Ministry of Defense make
exactly the same arguments as you do, William.  Just reverse 'USA' and 'USSR' 
and you get the idea. 
-- 
NSA food:  Iran sells Nicaraguan drugs to White House through CIA, DIA & NRO.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Michael Trout (miket@brspyr1)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BRS Information Technologies, 1200 Rt. 7, Latham, N.Y. 12110  (518) 783-1161
"God forbid we should ever be 20 years without...a rebellion." Thomas Jefferson