An Israeli military strategist claims that the United States and the Soviet Union, acting out of different reasons, are repeating the same mistakes that led to Middle East wars in the past. According to an article by Gen. Chaim Herzog published in The Times today, both superpowers are attempting to recreate borders "which by their very nature and character proved in the past to be a repeated invitation to war." Herzog said the two powers were acting in concert because they agree they cannot allow small countries to endanger them by war. "The solutions and panaceas which are being offered–such as demilitarization, international forces, leasing–will by their very nature, if judged by past experience–recreate the self same zones of uncertainty which gave rise to war and brought on conflict in the past," he wrote. Herzog said the U.S. sought a settlement in which competition between the superpowers will be of a peaceful nature." The Soviet Union, on the other hand, has strategic designs farther afield on the Indian continent and seeks to compete on the basis of a situation which simmers but is not allowed to boil over."
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