But while Reagan s critics might not have taken his pet technology seriously, the Russians certainly did. Even though SDI was decades away from being implemented, if not beyond the reach of technology altogether, the threat the shield presented along with Reagan s dogged commitment to it was enough to scare Soviet leader Mikhael Gorbachev into reforms that would eventually bring down the Soviet Union. In short: Star Wars never worked as Reagan wished. It worked even better. And I should know, because I saw it happen.
via www.politico.com