Unexamined questions about SDI
In its haste to push some emerging weapons technologies out the door, the Defense Department has skirted fundamental questions about the wisdom of the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI). Program managers have focused their attention on technological feasibility, an issue that becomes important only after agreement has been reached on the political and strategic goals that technology is supposed to help achieve. Four fundamental questions must be addressed. First, how would a limited ballistic missile defense (BMD) system help deter nuclear war. Second, how likely is it that US deployment of BMD will enable a transition to a world of offensive reductions and defensive buildups aimed at mutual assured survival. Third, how will we demonstrate to ourselves and the Soviets that is cheaper to develop defenses than to improve offenses to overwhelm them. And finally, what would be the full implications of the deployment of a vast array of weapons in space. What the answers to these questions will tell us about the value of SDI is uncertain. But there is no doubt that these issues need more careful study.
- Research Organization:
- Office of Technology Assessment of the US Congress, Washington, DC (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 6887982
- Journal Information:
- Issues Sci. Technol.; (United States), Vol. 5:1
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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