SDI (Strategic Defense Initiative): Shield or Sword

摘要

The paper attempts to answer the fundamental question, is SDI an adjunct to a first strike strategy. As its criteria, it discusses Soviet and U.S. opposing views on SDI, an historical application of Mutual Assured Destruction strategy, and a discussion of Soviet and U.S. thinking on first strike capability. President Reagan's March 1983 address on SDI is used as the backdrop to set the stage for the discussion. It is the objective of the authors to evaluate and analyze the potential impact of SDI on first strike. Keyword: Military strategy. (jes)