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From: henry@utzoo.UUCP (Henry Spencer)
Newsgroups: net.space,net.politics
Subject: Re: Aviation Week on Star Wars
Message-ID: <6288@utzoo.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 14-Jan-86 12:07:25 EST
Article-I.D.: utzoo.6288
Posted: Tue Jan 14 12:07:25 1986
Date-Received: Tue, 14-Jan-86 12:07:25 EST
References: <1289@ames.UUCP> <772@petrus.UUCP> <1149@lll-crg.ARpA>
Organization: U of Toronto Zoology
Lines: 21

> Technology advancing does not necessarily invalidate MAD, indeed,
> just the opposite.  Technology has made counterforce possible.
> Over the past 10 yrs, US nuclear throweight has dropped 40%.
> We simply don't need that much bang anymore.  Weapons are not getting
> larger, if anything, they're getting smaller.

Some people think this has little or nothing to do with advancing
technology, and a lot more to do with advancing common sense.  It is
worth remembering that the Oppenheimer committee, circa 1950, opposed
the development of the hydrogen bomb on the grounds that there was NO
VALID MILITARY REQUIREMENT for it.  These were knowledgeable people who
supported further development of other types of nuclear weapons.  Their
report stated, in so many words, that existing fission-bomb technology
(20kT bombs plus a sprinkling of fractional-megaton special designs) was
entirely adequate to meet all reasonable military needs, and that bigger
bombs were unnecessary.

They were right.
-- 
				Henry Spencer @ U of Toronto Zoology
				{allegra,ihnp4,linus,decvax}!utzoo!henry