According to the quote, how did president ronald reagan approach the policy of détente? the defense policy of the united states is based on a simple premise: the united states does not start fights. we will never be an aggressor. we maintain our strength in order to deter and defend against aggression to preserve freedom and peace. since the dawn of the atomic age, we've sought to reduce the risk of war by maintaining a strong deterrent and by seeking genuine arms control. deterrence means simply this: making sure any adversary who thinks about attacking the united states, or our allies, or our vital interests, concludes that the risks to him outweigh any potential gains. —ronald reagan, 1983 2 a. reagan believed that the soviet union would inevitably attack the united states in the near future. b. reagan did not accept the argument that the united states and the soviet union were ideological enemies. c. reagan recognized that havin