[idlewords]

It was Gorbachev who refused, not the generals.

[MaysonL]

He couldn't have refused without the support of the generals, who had just withdrawn from Afghanistan.

[Nevermark]

Very true.

And economic problems were a big incentive for everyone in charge to step back from wars. For country's with a strong economy there would be little incentive to stop, especially if AI makes war cheaper.