[Tangurena]

In 1962, there was the Cuban Missile Crisis: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuban_Missile_Crisis

In 1983, the Able Archer got the Soviet hierarchy in a tizzy. They misinterpreted a NATO exercise for an imminent attack. Reagan's announcement of SDI (more commonly called "Star Wars") lead the Soviets to believe that the US possessed technology that would shoot down any retalitory Soviet nuclear missile strikes, while permitting the US to fire nuclear missiles at will - thus defeating Mutually Assured Destruction. Add this to some jokes by Reagan such as the remark "My fellow Americans, I'm pleased to tell you today that I've signed legislation that will outlaw Russia forever. We begin bombing in five minutes." While the "5 minute" remark happened the following year, it was in character with Reagans other remarks about (and hostility towards) the Soviet Union.

https://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-intellig...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RYAN

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Able_Archer_83

To the Soviets, this exercise looked too much like a repeat of Operation Barbarossa, where the Nazis invaded the Soviet Union causing about 20 million deaths during WW2.

[guard-of-terra]

I know about those, but I don't see why blame those all solely on USSR.

It's like the horse is finally dead and it's now safe to kick it.

Also I'm not sure there is anybody to blame. All those crises were resolved as if actual adults were behind it, contrary to most of previous crises in the history of manhood. I'd say we've passed that exam collectively as a race.