SDI (Strategic Defense Initiative): Shield or Sword?

Abstract

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.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 15, 1989
Accession Number
ADA209777

Entities

People

  • Charles S. Butler
  • George R. Spiczak

Organizations

  • United States Army War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Counter WMD
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Arms Control
  • Ballistic Missiles
  • Civil Defense
  • Defense Systems
  • Deterrence
  • First Strike Capability
  • Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles
  • National Security
  • Nuclear Warheads
  • Nuclear Weapons
  • Security
  • Strategic Defense Initiative
  • United States
  • Ussr
  • War Colleges
  • Weapons

Readers

  • Military History / Militaries and War Studies
  • Missile Defense Systems.