Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 exptools 1/6/84; site ihuxl.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!mgnetp!ihnp4!ihuxl!dcn From: dcn@ihuxl.UUCP (Dave Newkirk) Newsgroups: net.followup Subject: Re: Star Wars Defense Plan Message-ID: <1292@ihuxl.UUCP> Date: Thu, 16-Aug-84 10:23:22 EDT Article-I.D.: ihuxl.1292 Posted: Thu Aug 16 10:23:22 1984 Date-Received: Fri, 17-Aug-84 01:03:29 EDT References: <966@ulysses.UUCP> Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Naperville, IL Lines: 29 I want to present some of the positive aspects of a Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) to balance the previous article. I am not an all-out proponent of BMD, but I think it should be honestly evaluated before condemning us to live with the MAD policy. A full-blown BMD would protect against limited nuclear war or accidental launches, and provide reasonable protection in a full-scale war. The 5% of the warheads that may get through would hit random targets thoughout North America, many of them military targets. It would be a horrible disaster, but not total annihilation, and maybe no nuclear winter either. The satellites can be a weak link, but precautions can be taken. Armor can be added (mirror finish?) to protect against ground based threats, and missile carrying satellites can destroy killer satellites. The shotgun attack can be avoided by moving the satellite slighty to evade the cloud of debris. I agree the fleet of SSBN's are formidable, but it really depends on the enemy's perception of them. If the Soviets think they can survive or neutralize enough of the warheads, then the subs are not enough to be an effective deterrent. Cruise missiles are hard to detect, but I think that problem is solvable. During WW II the British destroyed many V-1 cruise missiles with spotters, radar and fighter planes. Our defense technology has lagged the offense too long. If by some means we could deploy similar systems together (us and them), it could be the end nuclear war as we imagine it today. We would still have to deal with conventional warfare in Europe, the Middle East, etc, but it wouldn't be the first time, or the last!