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From: renner@uiucdcs.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.politics
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Strategic Arms (reply to Tim
Message-ID: <29200149@uiucdcs.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 26-Sep-84 16:39:00 EDT
Article-I.D.: uiucdcs.29200149
Posted: Wed Sep 26 16:39:00 1984
Date-Received: Fri, 28-Sep-84 04:38:20 EDT
References: <238@whuxl.UUCP>
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Nf-ID: #R:whuxl:-23800:uiucdcs:29200149:000:1548
Nf-From: uiucdcs!renner    Sep 26 15:39:00 1984

>   The bottom line is that the people who complain about MX and
>   trident being first strike weapons are just plain opposed to them
>   first strike capability or not.  They dont want any modernization.
>   That first strike stuff is all smokescreen...
>   					-- Milo Medin (ucbvax!medin)

Wrong.  Just plain wrong.  I object to MX because as a first-strike weapon,
it does nothing to support the policy of mutual-assured destruction.  The
MX has always been a damn stupid idea ever since Jimmy Carter thought it up.
It takes money from weapon systems that make some sense.

I object to Trident subs because they are too big; rather than one huge
SSBN, we should build two or three small ones.  Subs are considered 
invulnerable today, but that won't last for long.

I am in favor of improvements to our strategic forces.  But the area that
most needs improvement is command, control, communications, and information
(C3I).  This doesn't involve flashy new weapon systems.  It involves a
number of less glamorous but badly needed modernizations in SAC and Navy
communications:  eg. building phone & data lines resistant to EMP, reducing
dependencies on vulnerable satellites, making sure that we can talk to
our ballistic-missile subs.  Better C3I systems reduce the chance of
accidental war *and* make us less vulnerable to a first-strike aimed
at command centers.

It may be emotionally satisfying to imagine all those opposed to specific
weapon systems as commie-loving peace nuts.  But it isn't true.

Scott Renner
...ihnp4!uiucdcs!renner