America Abroad: The Cheerleaders of Tragedy

The Cheerleaders of Tragedy

In trying to vote themselves out of the U.S.S.R. three weeks ago, the members of the Lithuanian parliament were making three statements: Here is what our people want; here is what we deserve; here is how to get it. They were right, right and wrong.

Kremlinologists have been wondering for months whether there are any "red lines" beyond which the military, the KGB, the Communist Party and Soviet public opinion will simply not let Mikhail Gorbachev go. The Lithuanians gambled that for them, at least, the answer was no. Gorbachev has replied that for him and for now, the red line...

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