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olympi[s84,jmc]		Soviet boycott of the Olympics

jmc - Why the Soviets decided to boycott the Olympics is unclear.  It may
be that the organization encouraging defectors was a precipitating factor
in favor of the faction advocating the boycott.  One must remember that
the Soviet line concerning defectors doesn't admit that anyone could
honestly prefer another social system or that mistreatment precipitating
defection (such as antisemitism) can exist in the Soviet Union.  The line
also won't admit that groups encouraging defection can exist in the U.S.
without being instigated by the Government.  Therefore, individual
defections can be explained by coercion the bribery of weak-minded
individuals, attraction to bad aspects of capitalism such as pornography
or the possibility of getting rich, or criminals defecting in order to
prevent detection of their crimes.

	There is a strong isolationist faction in the Soviet Union, and it
seems to be increasingly powerful.  A rather pure example is the cutting
off (I believe in 1980) of international direct dialing into the Soviet
Union which had existed since (I believe) 1976.  The excuse offered at the
time was "technical problems".  I offer the following exercise for the
reader.  Give the explanation that would be offered by a Soviet official
when asked about this under the following circumstances.

	1. When surprised by a question from an American audience.
Remember that lying about the facts is not excluded, especially if
follow-up questions can be avoided.

	2. When asked by an ordinary Soviet citizen at a meeting
explaining the party line on some general issue to which this may be
apropos.  Remember that intimidation of the questioner by suggesting that
the question is a "provocation" is not excluded.  Explain the concept of
"provocation".

	3. When asked in private by a "politically mature" individual,
e.g. in a high level party or KGB context.  Suppose that the rank of the
questioner is equal to or higher than that of the person answering the
question.  Remember that while some cynicism is allowed under these
circumstances, an answer that admits even implicitly that the party is an
oppressive ruling class is probably excluded.

	Returning to the Olympic boycott, there is also the possibility
that the motivation is the effect on world public opinion, including
American.  Harsh words between the U.S.  and the Soviet Union always
increases sentiment for softening the situation by some unilateral U.S.
action.

	It is also relevant that the 1988 Olympics are scheduled for South
Korea, another country posing problems for the Soviet Union.  The North
Koreans could easily create a situation in which the Soviet Union would
have to boycott or be seen letting down the communist side.

	It seems to me that moving the Olympics permanently to Greece is a
good idea provided the money can be found for facilities and provided the
Greek Government can be seen to operate it in a politicaly neutral way.
Greece isn't Switzerland, and its politics are aggressively socialist now
after having been aggressively semi-fascist in the recent past.