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!