Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site spar.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!bonnie!akgua!whuxlm!harpo!decvax!decwrl!spar!baba
From: baba@spar.UUCP (Baba ROM DOS)
Newsgroups: net.politics
Subject: Re: Star Wars -> Nuclear war
Message-ID: <132@spar.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 17-Mar-85 02:01:03 EST
Article-I.D.: spar.132
Posted: Sun Mar 17 02:01:03 1985
Date-Received: Mon, 18-Mar-85 08:12:19 EST
References: <827@ames.UUCP> <5201@ucbvax.ARPA> <869@ames.UUCP> <5549@ucbvax.ARPA>
Distribution: net
Organization: Schlumberger Palo Alto Research, CA
Lines: 18

> Oh, it will protect the people as well, if its a global space
> based system.  It won't protect them 100%, but some damage
> limitation will occcur if 90% of the incoming warheads are
> destroyed.  Massive casualties?  Yes.  Less casualties?  Also Yes.
> 
> 					Milo

A "Star Wars" BMD system in orbit will only be useful if the Soviets are
stupid enough to keep basing their strategic forces on high sub-orbital
ICBM systems of the sort that an orbital BMD system can handle.  The
Soviets should be able to replace their ICBM systems with SLBM, cruise, 
and as-yet-unknown delivery systems both more quickly and more cheaply 
than we can build even a 90% effective defence against their ICBM's.

SDI as an element of strategy is nothing more than the Maginot Line
mentality projected into space.  

						ROM DOS