Reagan and the Second Cold War

What was his view of the USSR?

• Fighting communism was the his main policy. He made it clear that he would confront the USSR whenever possible. 
• He called the USSR an 'evil empire' in a speech to a religious community.

What were his aims when he came to power?

• Reagan wanted to be tougher to the USSR then Carter was.
• He wanted to eradicate the humiliation of the loss of the Vietnam war.
• He was determined not to be intimidated by the Soviet weaponary.

What was his defense policy?

• 100MX missiles and 100 long range and supersonic bombers
• Construction of a bomber that was invisible to the Soviet radar
• 6 Trident nuclear submarines
• Strengthening of the military communication system
• Neutron bombs

NUTS (Nuclear Utilisation Target Selection):

• This gave the idea that nuclear war targets could be identified and their destruction would be limited. Created the idea that there could be a victor in nuclear war.
• Destroyed the MAD theory that said that if one country fired, the ther would fire back.

Zero Option:

• Cancel all deployment of new intermediate missiles in West Europe in return for Soviet dismantling comparable forces.
• Bhreznev refused to agree with this policy.

SDI (Strategic Defense Initiative):

• A high tech weapon.
• Missiles could be destroyed by reflecting a laser from a satellite in space.
• It never actually got built but nevertheless it was a threat to the Soviets.