Word: sdi
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...President developed that "creative ambiguity" even further last week in a speech to ardent supporters of Star Wars. "Our SDI program has provided a historic opportunity -- one that enhances the prospects for reducing the number of nuclear weapons," Reagan told the group, stirring prospects of an eventual "grand compromise" that would trade off defense for offense. But he simultaneously rebuffed such speculation. "Let me reassure you right here and now that our response to demands that we cut off or delay research and testing and close shop is: No way. SDI is no bargaining chip." Even that was not enough...
...curtail its Strategic Defense Initiative, or Star Wars, the plan for a space-based antimissile shield. Gorbachev's letter proposed linking cuts in offensive missiles to an agreement by both countries to honor for at least 15 more years the 1972 antiballistic-missi le agreement, which would confine SDI to laboratory research and prohibit development, testing and deployment. As Reagan was taking flak at home and abroad for announcing that he planned to abandon the SALT II treaty, Gorbachev showed new signs of flexibility at the Geneva arms-control talks...
...period of notice each side would have to give before withdrawing from the treaty. This willingness to dicker with Moscow over the ABM treaty is being interpreted as a sweetener, a hint to the Soviets that the U.S. may be prepared to agree later to a longterm restriction of SDI. So it may be. But the fact remains that the U.S. is still playing hard to get on SDI. The Administration had long since reaffirmed a policy of abiding by the ABM treaty, and the terms of the treaty itself call for periodic review of compliance and applicability...
...actually have moved it backward. Reagan indicated to Gorbachev that he wants to loosen the strictures on the development and testing of exotic defenses so that the 1972 pact would permit the U.S. to proceed unfettered with SDI if and when the program is ready to move from the laboratories on earth to experiments in space. That is exactly what the Soviets want to stop, since they would then have to develop expensive offensive and defensive countermeasures. Moreover, for the record at least, Reagan remains committed to eventual deployment...
Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger and his anti-arms control alter ego Richard Perle fought hard against the modest concessions on offensive weapons ^ and even harder against any concession on SDI. "Anything that gives up strategic defense would be undesirable in every way," Weinberger insisted last week. Even if the Soviets were to reduce their offensive arsenal in return, he added, curtailing SDI would be "a bad bargain for the world." Secretary of State George Shultz and his aides, especially Paul Nitze, have fought just as hard to move pieces rather than merely touch them...