"Ronald Reagan used to alarm his Soviet counterparts by saying that surely they'd both unite against an invasion from Mars"

This quote by Christopher Hitchens is describing the Cold War in between the United States and the Soviet Union. Ronald Reagan was the President of the United States throughout this time and he utilized this quote to emphasize the idea that the two countries should have the ability to come together and collaborate, despite their differences. By saying that they would both unify against an invasion from Mars, Reagan was suggesting that the two countries must have the ability to put aside their distinctions and work together for the greater good. This quote is a pointer that even in times of dispute, it is possible to come together and collaborate for a typical objective. It is a suggestion that even in times of stress, it is possible to find commonalities and interact for the advantage of all.