Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site mit-eddie.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ihnp4!mit-eddie!lkk From: lkk@mit-eddie.UUCP (Larry Kolodney) Newsgroups: net.politics Subject: Re: Re: Nuclear power "experts" are just trying to erase the Sputnik era Message-ID: <3217@mit-eddie.UUCP> Date: Thu, 29-Nov-84 12:30:20 EST Article-I.D.: mit-eddi.3217 Posted: Thu Nov 29 12:30:20 1984 Date-Received: Fri, 30-Nov-84 11:45:57 EST References: <1133@drusd.UUCP> <2082@randvax.UUCP>, <328@whuxl.UUCP> Organization: MIT, Cambridge, MA Lines: 40 From: rohn@randvax.UUCP (Laurinda Rohn): "The idea of no more nuclear weapons is on a par with Mom and apple pie. I don't think anyone particularly likes nukes. I'm sure there are lots of "experts" who would like to get rid of all of them. But again, the key word is "verifiable." It is absurd to have the US unilaterally freeze without being able to verify whether the Soviets are doing the same." ----- I know of no "experts" who would like to get rid of all nuclear weapons. Given that nuclear technology exists, someone will build them. The question is how many (and of what type) we should have. I asked Phillip Morrison (atomic scientist and "expert" on Arms Control) what his ideal scenario for the US atomic arsenal should be. He said that having about 200 SLBM's controled by an international organization would be enough to prevent rogue countries from blackmailing the rest of the world, and would allow the U.S. and USSR to stop competing with each other. Admittedly this plan is vague, but it does indicate what one of the more "unilateralist" experts is aiming for. Please tell me why it is "absurd to have the US unilaterally freeze without being able to verify whether the Soviets are doing the same." Do you think the Soviets will attempt a preemptive strike if they think they are "ahead" of us? I think that risking the destruction of their world because they think they probably will be able to eliminate ours would be sheer lunacy. The Soviets are not lunatics. Far from it, they are among the most "conservative" of world leaders. At a recent symposium at MIT, Prof. Joseph Weizenbaum asked Paul Warnke (chief arms negotiator for the Carter administration, and recognized expert) what they effect on the Defense of the USA would be if we were to unilaterally destroy ALL of our land based ICBM's. The response: "Nothing, sir". What more is there to say? -- larry kolodney (The Devil's Advocate) UUCP: ...{ihnp4, decvax!genrad}!mit-eddie!lkk ARPA: lkk@mit-mc