ABSTRACT
This chapter begins with a summary of what is known about Marshal Akhromeev’s life and career as a Soviet military officer. It outlines the views he expressed and the role he played as Chief of Staff in arms control negotiations and in formulating and promulgating the new Soviet military doctrine. The chapter presents the case for regarding Akhromeev’s retirement as the outcome of a conflict between his duties as the senior officer in the Soviet military establishment and his loyalty to a General Secretary who plans to reform that establishment. It offers a description of his probable functions as a military advisor, as a member of the newly reconstituted and more assertive Supreme Soviet, and, most importantly, as a player behind the scenes of Soviet decision making. Akhromeev’s skillfully articulated the Soviet objection to the Strategic Defense Initiative on the grounds that deployment of space-based systems would violate the Anti-ballistic Missile treaty.
