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From: jon@boulder.UUCP (Jon Corbet)
Newsgroups: net.flame
Subject: Arms race
Message-ID: <208@boulder.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 29-Aug-84 19:52:54 EDT
Article-I.D.: boulder.208
Posted: Wed Aug 29 19:52:54 1984
Date-Received: Sat, 1-Sep-84 14:54:04 EDT
Organization: National Center for Atmospheric Research
Lines: 28

[]

I am amazed by the number of people blaming the Soviet Union for the arms
race, when it seems clear to me that the United States has had at least
as much of a role in the whole thing.  Examples:

	- John Kennedy getting himself elected by campaigning about
	  the "Missle Gap," which turned out not to exist.
	
	- John Kennedy's failure to try to obtain a comprehensive test
	  ban treaty, even though the soviets favored one.  (The pentagon
	  did not, and JFK did not feel he could get the treaty accepted
	  without their approval...)
	
	- The failure of the United States to accept the ban on MIRV
	  missles offered by the soviets.  It is amusing that the current
	  soviet reliance on MIRV ICBM missles is the cause of much of
	  the current talk of a "window of vulnerability," which also
	  does not exist.
	
	- The "bargaining chip" approach to arms control, which requires
	  us to build new arms in order to reduce arms.  Strange logic.

The list goes on, I just wish to show that the United States is not
blameless.  DISCLAIMER:  neither is the USSR blameless, and Kennedy was
a good president, even if he missed some opportunities.

Jon Corbet