In July 1985, a Soviet truck slammed in the the rear of a vehicle. Then, the two drivers –one American, and one Soviet– “engag[ed] in a heated argument.” Could happen on any street corner, right? Except the two drivers were soldiers, the crash occurred during the heat of the Cold War, and it was in East Berlin –the American was “behind enemy lines.” And even more peculiarly, when viewed through the lens of the Cold War, Soviet officials were quick to announce to the United States that their soldier was “completely at fault.”
Fortunately, a 24 July1985 National Security Counsel memo, recently released by the Reagan Presidential Library, untangles and explains the incident. It’s a very interesting read –and does a lot to explain how the policy makers at the top of the American government get their information and enact their strategies. (more…)
