SDI and the Atlantic Alliance
The Atlantic Alliance was disturbed when the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) was conceived and presented primarily as an American unilateral initiative, with no political or strategic consultation with the allies. It was also disturbed by the confused and contradictory objectives of SDI; i.e., its rejection of the logic of deterrence as a dangerous and unethical proposition at the same time that it reinforces the logic of mutual assured destruction (MAD). Some of the basic ambiguity is related to the technology, which remains untested. SDI's purpose is not to defend people or missiles, but to destroy weapons. The author argues that SDI threatens the survival of Europe's high tech industries and could lead to a massive transfer of NATO-related defense expenditures away from European defense and toward a defensive shield of dubious value for Europeans.
- OSTI ID:
- 6154571
- Journal Information:
- Atl. Community Q.; (United States), Journal Name: Atl. Community Q.; (United States) Vol. 23:3; ISSN ACMQD
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
290600* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Nuclear Energy
BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENSE
COOPERATION
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
HISTORICAL ASPECTS
INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS
INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
NATIONAL DEFENSE
NATO
NUCLEAR DETERRENCE
POLITICAL ASPECTS
SPACE WEAPONS