Changes

It being a catalyst for the collapse of the Soviet Union may be inferred from the fact that NATO had decided, under the impetus of the U.S. administration, to deploy [[Pershing II]] and cruise [[missile]]s in [[Europe]], primarily [[West Germany]]. This deployment would have placed missiles just 6-10 minutes striking distance from [[Moscow]]. But  support for the deployment was wavering and many doubted that the missile deployment would find enough support to effect it.

It being a catalyst for the collapse of the Soviet Union may be inferred from the fact that NATO had decided, under the impetus of the U.S. administration, to deploy [[Pershing II]] and cruise [[missile]]s in [[Europe]], primarily [[West Germany]]. This deployment would have placed missiles just 6-10 minutes striking distance from [[Moscow]]. But  support for the deployment was wavering and many doubted that the missile deployment would find enough support to effect it.

When the Soviet Union shot down Flight 007 with 269 people aboard—an act which U.S. President [[Ronald Reagan]] characterized as a "massacre"—enough support was galvanized for the deployment. Many believe this U.S. confrontational demonstration of strength to be a factor in the demise of the Soviet Union.

When the Soviet Union shot down Flight 007 with 269 people aboard—an act which U.S. President [[Ronald Reagan]] characterized as a "massacre"—enough support was galvanized for the deployment. Many believe this U.S. confrontational demonstration of strength to be a factor in the demise of the Soviet Union, but this is unlikely given that the administration changed completely in the intervening years. The collapse was more likely to have been due to a more flexible central regime coming to power allowing republics to break away and undermine the basis of the union. Reference should be made to the political department at the University of Durham (UK) for a definitive answer on this.

==The Flight==

==The Flight==