"james_anatidae" wrote:

"Paul F Austin" wrote in message
...
False reporting gave the Soviets (and western intel
shops) wildly optimistic views of Soviet readiness states that started to
evaporate in Afghanistan.

And of course once the truth was known, the Reagan-era pentagon was still
spinning the story for the public and congress of the growing Soviet threat
and how that were building a blue-water navy, so we needed a 600 ship navy
to counter.

The problem is, that unlike an Army, a Navies readiness can be
discerned much more easily. Either it is at sea, or it is not.
Either it is cruising, or it is moored.

And in fact, across the 80's, the Soviet was at sea in increasing
numbers and increasing activity. And in fact they were moving
steadily towards building a blue-water Navy, and increasing in ability
to interfere should a second Battle of the Atlantic occur.

D.
--
Touch-twice life. Eat. Drink. Laugh.