Future SDI (Strategic Defense Initiative) Decision Making.

Abstract

Nearly five years have lapsed since President Reagan made his now famous speech launching his Strategic Defense Initiative. Yet, polarized debate continues over the program's feasibility, desirability, affordability, goals, and direction. Some claim the program's goals have changed over time, and that today the primary goal is for an enhanced deterrence rather than providing a population defense as originally envisioned. Although the Congress has provided continuing and expanded funding for SDI, a consensus does not exist between the Congress and the Administration over the program's direction and goals. Some concerns exist within the Congress that the Administration is rushing too quickly to reach a decision on initial system development. Others would like to see initial development of a more limited defensive capability than that envisioned by the SDI program. This paper examines the evolution of SDI from a policy standpoint and addresses a series of questions that taken together may suggest parameters for future decision making.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 29, 1988
Accession Number
ADA192794

Entities

People

  • Barry W. Holman

Organizations

  • United States Army War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • C4I
  • Counter WMD
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Arms Control
  • Ballistic Missiles
  • Civil Defense
  • Defense Systems
  • Directed Energy Weapons
  • Governments
  • National Security
  • Negotiations
  • Nuclear Weapons
  • Security
  • Space Based
  • Space Transportation
  • Test And Evaluation
  • Treaties
  • United States
  • Ussr
  • War Colleges

Fields of Study

  • Political science

Readers

  • Public Financial Management and Budgeting
  • Strategic Security Studies