In 1988, at the welcome dinner in Moscow, Reagan smiled and hinted to Gorbachev, "Can you hand over that person to me, the United States will not disappoint Your Excellency", Gorbachev pretended to be crazy, "Oh friend, he has already been shot", the atmosphere was awkward for a while, "that person" is indeed too important to the United States.
On the world stage in 1988, the atmosphere of the Cold War gradually shifted to complex diplomatic negotiations and covert confrontations. Against this backdrop, the leaders of the two superpowers, US President Ronald Reagan and Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev, gathered in a magnificent venue in Moscow for a ceremonial welcome dinner.
At this time, Gorbachev was pushing for political reform in the Soviet Union, while Reagan, with his typical Hollywood charm and hidden tactics, tried to win the last advantage in the game of the Cold War.
At the dinner, the atmosphere appeared to be harmonious on the surface, and Reagan and Gorbachev exchanged polite words. As dinner progressed, however, Reagan abruptly shifted his light-hearted tone to a sensitive subject that was of great concern to both of them — a mysterious figure known as "the man." His hinted words were filled with banter and temptation: "Can you hand over that person to me, the United States will not disappoint Your Excellency." ”
At that moment, the atmosphere in the banquet hall changed suddenly. Gorbachev's words seemed to hang in the air for a while, bringing to an abrupt end the otherwise noisy background sounds. The participants were either curious or surprised, and different emotions intertwined in the hall. The conversation between Gorbachev and Reagan, though only a few short sentences, was like an orchestrated drama that captivated everyone in the room.
Gorbachev's answer was multilayered. It may seem like a humorous expression to those who don't know the inside story, but for observers who are well versed in international politics, the underlying meaning is much more profound. His words were not only a direct rejection of Reagan's request, but also a reminder to the American president that the Soviet Union had already made a decisive move in this covert intelligence war.
Beneath the surface of the conversation, there is a deeper exchange of information. Gorbachev's response was actually an indirect revelation of previous internal decisions in the Soviet Union. The words of the general secretary of the Soviet Union hinted at a major truth: the Soviet Union did not fail to detect American infiltration, on the contrary, they had already taken action to meet the challenge of this intelligence war.
Back to that tense moment, Gorbachev's face did not show much emotion, but his eyes revealed a kind of sharpness and calculation. He knew that his words would make waves in Reagan's mind, and that was exactly what he wanted. For a seasoned politician, how to control the situation without firing a single shot is an art that must be mastered.
Although Reagan was shocked by the sudden news, he was also an opponent to be reckoned with. His face quickly regained its composure, though his heart was turbulent. As a seasoned politician and actor, he knows that in such a public setting, any excessive emotional performance can be exploited by the other side. Therefore, he chose to remain silent and respond to Gorbachev with a scrutinizing eye, trying to find more clues from the other party's expression and tone.
The dinner went on, but the atmosphere was very different. While the other participants tried to resume their normal conversation, the aftermath of that conversation still echoed in the air. Some began to whisper in private, discussing the implications of the exchange they had just had. Everyone's mind is speculating about what kind of diplomatic moves will unfold after this dinner.
This dialogue is not just a power struggle between two national leaders, but a covert battle of information, strategy and betrayal. It sheds light on the complex intelligence and diplomatic relations between major powers in the context of the Cold War. This night will be an unforgettable lesson and revelation for all present - on the chessboard of international politics, every move can determine the direction of the future.
From (Italian) by Pino Araki. A century-old scam: revealing the truth of global panic[M]. 2014
