Saddam believed he could survive US attacks long enough to eventually return to power in the aftermath of a failed US invasion.
Who penned that theory?
Again, the malarkey you are willing to buy is grossly at odds with reality IMO.
You are theorizing according to spin it was Reagans "aggressive defense budget" based solely on spin versus the practical reality that our spending had virtually no effect on the USSR's demise.
Who is spinning things now?