Lariat Advance D-3 (6 July, 1987)

It was just past 0200 hours in the Federal Republic of Germany on 6 July, 1987 when President Reagan began his address to an increasingly anxious nation and world. Despite the early hour, Reagan’s speech was being watched closely by thousands of troops, officers and dependents in US Army kasernes and other US military bases …

The American Homefront D-1 (8 July, 1987)

At 7 PM Eastern Daylight Time, the nightly news broadcasts on CBS, NBC, and ABC started. Two of the ‘Big Three’ anchors were broadcasting live from Europe. Tom Brokaw was in London, and Peter Jennings was in Brussels. Dan Rather remained at the CBS studios in New York City much to his chagrin. He wanted …

Pre-War Background and Timeline

*Authors Note: With the Christmas break finally here, I am going to use the free time to reorganize the blog, edit and revise previous postings,  and make some other changes if possible. This timeline is being posted for the benefit of new readers, providing them, and everyone else, with an alternative to digging deep in …

Peripheries: Central America & the Caribbean D-2 (7 July, 1987) **

Central America and the Caribbean Sea had the potential to turn into a tempest in a teapot for the United States if hostilities with the Soviet Union broke out. Nicaragua and Cuba were both firm Soviet allies, and situated squarely in the geographic backyard of the US. Fidel Castro was still running Cuba despite decades …

The Central Front Chessboard: D-1 (8 July, 1987) **

General Galvin had decided to remain at NATO headquarters in Brussels for the time being instead of moving to his wartime headquarters. It was SACEUR’s prerogative where he chose to direct the defense of Western Europe. For the moment, Galvin preferred his office and the command room in Brussels to a command post nestled deep …

Search for the Stealth: D-1 (8 July, 1987) Part II **

Sergeant Richard Lawson walked into the pub shortly after 1400. The short, stocky NCO stopped and spoke to the bartender for a brief moment, then exchanged greetings with a few of the older gentlemen at the bar. Prokofiev got the idea they knew Lawson personally and were pumping him for news. On the other hand, …

Search for the Stealth: D-1 (8 July, 1987) Part I **

His diplomatic immunity was no longer valid, Sergei Prokofiev reminded himself. The British government had already declared most Soviet diplomats in the United Kingdom persona non grata. In effect, they were no longer welcomed here and the Brits were officially kicking them out of the country. The move had been announced three days ago and …

Peripheries: Western Pacific D-1 (8 July, 1987) **

The Western Pacific was an area ripe with potential flashpoints in early July, 1987. For the past week the main concern for US commanders in the Pacific was attempting to outline what the Soviet strategy in the WestPac area would be in the event of war. Coming in a close second was deciphering the situation …

Peripheries: Arabian Peninsula/Persian Gulf D-1 (8 July, 1987) **

By D-1 CENTCOM was in the best possible shape considering the circumstances of the moment. A brigade of paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division was on the ground at Cario West Air Base in Egypt. A detachment of E-3 Sentries, and two fighter squadrons, one of F-15s and the other of F-16s, aas well as …

Peripheries: Arabian Peninsula/Persian Gulf D-4 (5 July, 1987) **

In late June and early July of 1987, as tensions rose in Europe and elsewhere, the Persian Gulf region became a bastion of virtual serenity. As the superpowers moved towards an imminent conflict, the Iran-Iraq war receded dramatically.Whether this was by design, or circumstance remains debatable. It would be fair to assume Baghdad and Tehran …