“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.
My fault, I meant of them attacking us.