My question to get this conversation started is, was that optimism seemingly premature, based perhaps on a misunderstanding of the political realities of that particular moment? Was that moment destined to end up where we are now, in a new arms race?

Well, first of all, thank you for having me.

I think the clear answer is no.

It wasn't premature.

The problem is that I remember I was in Berlin the night the wall fell down, the night right after the day it fell down.

And it was quite a shocking view to see all the long, the many broken bottles of alcohol and the long queues in front of sex shops.

That was a striking image after the inebriating day we had lived.

Therefore, you can bring a very interesting perspective from that experience on the implications of these two interesting developments in this conflict.