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Reagan had rejected a plan recommended by Jimmy Carter to shuttle the new MX missiles among thousands of shelters in a vast "drag strip" in Utah and Nevada. The most heated grilling of Weinberger involved the Administration's alternative plan: temporarily housing the first 36 of the 100 proposed MX missiles in "superhardened" Titan II missile silos. Appearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee, the Defense Secretary began his testimony by trying to clarify the "window of vulnerability," a term used to describe the period in which American land-based missiles could possibly be wiped out by a surprise...
Republican John Tower of Texas, committee chairman and a supporter of the dragstrip approach, acidly noted that the hardened silos would hardly make the MX invulnerable. "What is recommended does not enhance the survivability of the MX missile," he asserted. Democrat Henry Jackson of Washington argued that by shielding the MXs in fixed silos, "we're giving the Soviets a better target." Weinberger quickly fired back: "I don't agree, Senator." The Secretary pointed out that the silos solution was only temporary, and that strengthening the silos did protect the missiles. Said Weinberger: "Whatever we gain is worth...
...questioning was no less sharp from members of the House Armed Services Committee, who quizzed Weinberger next day. Chairman Melvin Price, an Illinois Democrat, complained that the Pentagon lacked proof that "36 MX missiles in Titan silos will be any less vulnerable than the missiles presently in those silos." Many House members, as did some Senators, also attacked the Administration's plan to build 100 new B-l bombers at a cost of $200 million apiece...
Once it seemed like it would go on forever, but deep down they should have known the end would come. MX jokes are all used up, and "window of vulnerability" puns are passe...
...back to the main point: let's get off this self-pity kick on the end of the MX and look elsewhere in that funny five-sided fortress for our laughs...