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From: js2j@mhuxt.UUCP (sonntag)
Newsgroups: net.politics
Subject: Re: Dangerous Military Myth
Message-ID: <1468@mhuxt.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 13-Mar-86 11:30:59 EST
Article-I.D.: mhuxt.1468
Posted: Thu Mar 13 11:30:59 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 15-Mar-86 23:16:20 EST
References: <373@ihnet.UUCP> <2146@jhunix.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill
Lines: 49

> >> And it gave the Soviets a decided
> >> advantage in this regard; 
> >Here we see the most dangerous myth in our society today.
> >What advantage?!?  Do you really believe it is better to have 50,000 missiles
> >than 500?  Especially since many reputable independent scientists have
> >recently estimated that ~200 nuclear explosions will
> >irreparably damage the *entire* ecology of our planet.
> 
> According to this reasoning, you should support SDI, since SDI would 
> cut down the Soviets' effective number of missiles--(say) 95% of their
> missiles won't get through, meaning they have, in effect, 95% fewer
> missiles.

      Meaning they have, in effect, great incentive to produce 20 times as
many missiles.  Only a madman or someone who hasn't seriously considered
the likely effects of SDI would support it.
      Consider:  We've been ignoring the Soviet's efforts at arms control,
and have embarked on a research program which, if successful, would make
us nearly immune to nuclear attack, making it seem at least possible that
we could do a first strike, destroy the USSR, and have large pieces of our
country left to tell about it.  Since the Soviets don't have the technology
to keep pace with us in SDI, their only option will be to produce *many* 
more missiles, or else learn to live with the knowlege that they exist only
at our mercy.  You don't really think they'll choose the second option, do
you?  I guess they have one other option which I hadn't mentioned:  they
could try attacking before SDI is implemented.
      Since you apparently support SDI, would you mind explaining which of
these options you think the Soviets will take?
>  
> What do you mean, they have taken the lead in halting the arms race?
> What Soviet actions are you referring to?
> 
    Presumably the unilateral halting of testing by the Soviets, and the
offer of a 50% reduction, or the offer of on-site independant inspections...
> 
> >Hundreds (not hundreds of thousands) of missiles are enough to
> >guarantee a first, second, or third strike, depending on your mood that day.
> 
> They're enough for a first strike, but not enough for a second, because the
> opponent's first strike would have our missile bases among its targets.

     But if there are only hundreds to be used, the earth might still be
habitable afterward!  Having enough missiles to satisfy your need for revenge
guarantees our planet's inhabitability in the case of their use.
> 
> Kenneth Arromdee
-- 
Jeff Sonntag
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