Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxl!ihnp4!inuxc!pur-ee!uiucdcs!renner From: renner@uiucdcs.UUCP (renner ) Newsgroups: net.politics Subject: Re: Hart scares me to death!! - (nf) Message-ID: <6049@uiucdcs.UUCP> Date: Tue, 6-Mar-84 22:28:26 EST Article-I.D.: uiucdcs.6049 Posted: Tue Mar 6 22:28:26 1984 Date-Received: Thu, 8-Mar-84 07:14:40 EST Lines: 20 #R:cepu:-19700:uiucdcs:29200108:000:939 uiucdcs!renner Mar 6 18:50:00 1984 /***** uiucdcs:net.politics / ihuxt!smeier / 7:14 pm Mar 5, 1984 */ > Do nuclear weapons have any ``useful'' lives at all? As long as the > enemy believes that such a weapon can be used, the weapon is serving > its purpose... So why not just make do with our not-so-useful MM3s, as > long as we can make *them* think that the missiles just might still > work? It's an interesting thought, but it probably won't work. I suspect that the Soviets have an excellent idea of how reliable our strategic weapon systems actually are. The problems with the B-52s are well known. I recall one NBC special where the camera crew went on a B-52 training flight. The first two planes they tried developed problems on the runway and were not safe to fly. The Minuteman missiles are supposedly in better shape, although I expect that a solid-fuel rocket loses some reliability after 20 years. Scott Renner {ihnp4,pur-ee}!uiucdcs!renner