Claiborne Pell: “The quest for security can be aggressive, especially when it involves the hot pursuit of some enemies, the pre-emption…”

“The quest for security can be aggressive, especially when it involves the hot pursuit of some enemies, the pre-emption of others, subjugation or subversion of still others. In a world full of dangers--real, imagined or exaggerated--the Soviet leadership would prefer to protect its gains with minimum risk of war by means of diplomacy, intimidation, propaganda, covert action, or the use of proxies. If necessary, though, it will resort to direct military intervention to ensure the survival of the Soviet system including in those countries where the system has been imposed by outright conquest--such as Hungary, Czechoslovakia and possibly next, Poland. On Christmas Day two years ago, the Soviet army invaded Afghanistan to prop up a faltering Marxist regime and has been there ever since. Even when Soviet force is not on the move, the existence of so gargantuan a military machine threatens other states. It emboldens zealots within the Politburo who might be tempted to use this prowess, as well as pro-Soviet forces abroad who might hope that Moscow's leaders will aid or rescue their own bids for power. Communism is serious competition for other social and economic systems in large measure because it is backed up by the threat of Soviet force. I think these remarks show that Strobe Talbott was very conscious of the Soviet threat and the use of force in January 1982.”