Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site petrus.UUCP
Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!bellcore!petrus!karn
From: karn@petrus.UUCP (Phil R. Karn)
Newsgroups: net.space
Subject: Re: A High Tech Maginot Line
Message-ID: <749@petrus.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 10-Dec-85 13:01:11 EST
Article-I.D.: petrus.749
Posted: Tue Dec 10 13:01:11 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 11-Dec-85 22:07:42 EST
References: <8512020718.AA15110@s1-b.arpa> <8512031532.AA11191@ucbvax.berkeley.edu>
Organization: Bell Communications Research, Inc
Lines: 20

> When the Soviets start to use this as a delivery method, I think I'll start
> to worry.

Start worrying. Ever heard of cruise missiles? They are simply automated
smuggling devices with warheads in place of drugs.

> Drug smuggling is still not a counter-example against SDI.  SDI is a
> specific defense against a specific form of attack - ie. that form of
> attack that our potential enemy currently places emphasis upon.

The parallels to the Maginot Line are even closer than I thought. In both
cases, the advocates of the defense wave(d) their hands and claim(ed) that the
enemy would never dream of exploiting the Achilles Heel of the system.
The Soviets may currently place their emphasis on long-range land-based
ICBMs, but deploying SDI would simply guarantee that they shift their
emphasis to cruise missiles, short-range sub-missiles and perhaps even
diplomatic pouch smuggling (the Soviets regularly label entire tractor-
trailers as "diplomatic pouches").

Phil