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From: medin@nike.UUCP (Milo S. Medin)
Newsgroups: net.space,net.politics
Subject: Re: Aviation Week on Star Wars
Message-ID: <19@nike.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 8-Jan-86 13:50:33 EST
Article-I.D.: nike.19
Posted: Wed Jan  8 13:50:33 1986
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Reply-To: medin@nike.UUCP (Milo S. Medin)
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Summary: nuke war acceptable?


Al, you seem to think that nuclear war is to be avoided at any cost.
Clearly, if this were the case, we wouldn't be pursuing current
defense goals.  The fact is, we in the US would prefer to
start a nuclear war than to relinquish our national sovereignty.

Also, taking a position like that would erode deterrence and increase
the risk of war.  One element of deterrence is will.  If you have
capabilities, even if the other side is confident in those capabilities,
if you are not willing to use them they are not an effective deterrent.

					Milo