...Soon after assuming office in 1981, the Reagan Administrationabandoned the established policy of pursuing detente with the SovietUnion and instead instituted a massive arms buildup; it also fomentedproxy wars in areas of Soviet influence, while denying the Sovietsdesperately needed oil equipment and technology. Then, in themid-1980s, Washington persuaded Saudi Arabia to flood the world marketwith cheap oil. Throughout the last decade of its existence, the USSRpumped and sold its oil at the maximum possible rate in order to earnforeign exchange income with which to keep up in the arms race andprosecute its war in Afghanistan. Yet with markets awash with cheapSaudi oil, the Soviets were earning less even as they pumped more. Twoyears after their oil production peaked, the economy of the USSRcrumbled and its government collapsed.