"The peoples behind the Iron Curtain yearned to be free, to speak their minds, to publish their thoughts, and most of all, to think for themselves. While a few dissidents had the courage to express those yearnings openly, most were simply afraid. We dissidents were certain, however, that freedom would be seized by the masses at the first opportunity because we understood that fear and a deep desire for liberty are not mutually exclusive. Fortunately there were a few leaders in the West who could look beyond the facade of Soviet power to see the fundamental weakness of a state that denied its citizens freedom. Western policies of accommodation, regardless of their intent, were effectively propping up the Soviet’s tiring arms. Had that accommodation continued, the USSR might have survived for decades longer. By adopting a policy of confrontation instead, an enervated Soviet regime was further burdened. ...Beset on the inside by dissidents demanding the regime live up to its international commitments and pressed on the outside by leaders willing to link their diplomacy to internal Soviet changes, Soviet leaders were forced to lower their arms. The spark of freedom that was unleashed spread like a brushfire to burn down an empire." -
Natan Sharansky Oh please. Why not post Sinyavsky and Daniel, too?
When I was in grad school, I claimed they were KGB agents. Having lived in the USSR, I said something was just too “neat” about their trials. My prof, reputedly a CIA agent, disagreed vehemently.
Fast forward to the early 1990’s. The archives are released. Surprise surprise. The Sinyavsky and Daniel trial was a KGB designed action.
Want to google some quotes about Sharansky’s role as a hut captain?