I was just looking for that quote, very interesting too considering the dynamics are changed since the LEO and military personnel that would be involved in the round up would actually have ties to the “subjected.” The Soviets would have had no qualms about going at it had not the fear been there. Yet in this situation those involved in the roundup would have the fear of the unknown and the personal ties.
“The Soviets would have had no qualms about going at it had not the fear been there.”
Uhm...the Hardline soviets DID go at it...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1991_Soviet_coup_d%27%C3%A9tat_attempt
I have vastly oversimplified the events..and I’m sure there are better sources..
Bottom line...most of the troops and generals gave the KGB hardliners the finger and sided with the people and Gorbachev...the hardline coup failed within three days.