>>16747089
That was an unintentional bonus in the western plan to cause the USSR to bankrupt itself. SDI and low oil prices (Saudi Arabia was part of this) were two of the primary drivers, but the Soviets freaking out over the Shuttle's by-committee design helped push them over the edge. There were other programs, like the military build up in general and endless one upping each other with more and better nukes, but Buran did its part without the US even meaning for that to happen.