Strategic Defense Initiative Fact Book.

This fact book is intended to provide decision-makers and political leaders with accurate, factual and up-to-date information on the Strategic Defense Initiative SDI This first chapter is intended to provide an overview of SDI, information on Americas basic strategic policy at the current time, and some historical perspective on the issue of missile defense. In earlier decades under both Democratic and Republican administrations, the concept of defending against incoming nuclear missiles has been explored. This is not a new concept what is new is the technology that is currently available that could make a defensive system more feasible and more reliable. This is one of the major reasons President Reagan proposed in 1983 that the United States make research into a missile defense system a high priority. Currently, the U.S. strategic policy is one of deterrence through the threat of massive retaliation. SDI seeks to change this approach. If such a system proves feasible and many proponents argue that the technology is most encouraging at this point, the U.S. and the Soviet Union could make a gradual transition to defensive systems, thus reducing reliance on offensive weapons of destruction. The goal of the SDI program is to provide future decision-makers with an informed choice. SDI is currently a research and development program de- signed to determine the feasibility of a future system. This five-year program seeks to provide decision-makers in the early 1990s with solid information about the potential of various technologies and the potential for deploying a defensive system. In addition, it seeks to provide our leader- ship with options in case of a Soviet technological breakthrough or further Soviet break-out from the Anti-Ballistic Missile ABM Treaty of 1972. Finally, it should be emphasized that SDI is not meant to replace our current need for mo