Realistically its not that hard to make the USSR survive, Its fall wasnt envitable as everyone talks about. Yes it was flawed system but it was it always a flawed one. To make it survive requires small changes causing rather than trying to reform it cracks down hard on the internal factors and plays aggressive around the time of the gulf war. If they can drive up oil prices and the cost of other mineral resourses it streghtens the Soviet hand while slowing Western economic growth.
Several factors came together at the time, small changes to its internal politics and responses butterfly away collapse.
Agreed.
I remember thinking during the oil price spike caused by the war, that if Gorbechev had held on just a little longer...
Hell, just let Iraq hold Kuwaitt and you've got a dangerously aggressive Saddam with a lot more money to buy Soviet hardware.
More money for guns, more trouble in the ME, higher prices for oil, more money for oil (both for Saddam and USSR), more money for more guns, more prestige for Saddam, more ambition for Saddam, more trouble, more guns,
repeat and simmer until oil prices have new HIGER floor, Iraq's a powerfull military and economic partner for the USSR, the USSR is recieving much more for it's oil, the West is sucking because of higher energy costs...