The Russian Hour

Once upon a time the people of Western Europe were able to console themselves with the belief that the sturdy American shield would always protect them from Soviet attack. But over the years, their trust in America’s readiness to defend the less than 30 per cent of Europe that is not in totalitarian hands has declined steadily, starting as far back as the early Fifties, with the American refusal to win in Korea. In the Seventies, the U.S. abandoned its allies in Southeast Asia, jettisoned Taiwan, watched helplessly as Iran became a mobocracy, and, perhaps most outrageous of all, permitted Cuba, the little Soviet satellite only ninety miles off Florida’s shore, to establish a large empire in Africa. Having observed this pattern of behavior for close to thirty years, many Europeans no longer believe they can rely on the U.S.; and, at the same time, they are growing ever more concerned over the possibility of a Soviet attack.

But is the Communist empire really strong enough to seize Western Europe? It would not seem so, if one considered merely the loyalty and enthusiasm of its unfortunate subjects. Between Prague and Vladivostok genuine Communists are a tiny minority; many people, probably a huge majority, are dreaming of the downfall of their rulers. But whatever the feelings of the three hundred million enslaved persons, the Soviet and satellite armies are intact—and there are no signs of-dissent here. With or without SALT II, the Soviet war machine is a grim and constant threat.

EK

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Erik von Kuehnelt-Leddihn

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Once upon a time the people of Western Europe were able to console themselves with the belief that the sturdy American shield would always protect them from Soviet attack. But over the years, their trust in America’s readiness to defend the less than 30 per cent of Europe that is not in totalitarian hands has declined steadily, starting as far back as the early Fifties, with the American refusal to win in Korea. In the Seventies, the U.S. abandoned its allies in Southeast Asia, jettisoned Taiwan, watched helplessly as Iran became a mobocracy, and, perhaps most outrageous of all, permitted Cuba, the little Soviet satellite only ninety miles off Florida’s shore, to establish a large empire in Africa. Having observed this pattern of behavior for close to thirty years, many Europeans no longer believe they can rely on the U.S.; and, at the same time, they are growing ever more concerned over the possibility of a Soviet attack.

But is the Communist empire really strong enough to seize Western Europe? It would not seem so, if one considered merely the loyalty and enthusiasm of its unfortunate subjects. Between Prague and Vladivostok genuine Communists are a tiny minority; many people, probably a huge majority, are dreaming of the downfall of their rulers. But whatever the feelings of the three hundred million enslaved persons, the Soviet and satellite armies are intact—and there are no signs of-dissent here. With or without SALT II, the Soviet war machine is a grim and constant threat.