The USSR was devastated by this attack, and President Reagan made a speech a week later, saying, "This was unnecessary is many ways. Even though, dare I say, these men are 'on our side', I understand the notion that no one human being deserves to die at the mercy of malice aforethought. There are more humane ways to deal with this conundrum, we don't want to risk a nuclear holocaust ravaging the world in retaliation for this completely unjust act of violence and slaughter." Two months later, the USSR dissoluted, and gave rise to a bigger power.