Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site ames.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!allegra!bellcore!decvax!ittvax!dcdwest!sdcsvax!sdcrdcf!hplabs!intelca!qantel!dual!ames!al From: al@ames.UUCP (Al Globus) Newsgroups: net.politics Subject: Star Wars -> Nuclear war Message-ID: <827@ames.UUCP> Date: Thu, 28-Feb-85 18:28:34 EST Article-I.D.: ames.827 Posted: Thu Feb 28 18:28:34 1985 Date-Received: Mon, 4-Mar-85 08:17:48 EST Distribution: net Organization: NASA-Ames Research Center, Mtn. View, CA Lines: 18 Assertion: Deployment of star wars will result in thermonuclear war Data: Geoffrey Blainey in "The Causes of War" investigated the causes of all international wars in the last three centuries. He found that in most cases one side, the other, or both had a great feeling of optimism just before hostilities began. 'Proof' (of course there's no such thing as a real proof in politics): Given this data and the lack of defense against nuclear weapons, it is easy to see why we have not seen a major nuclear war - no one is able to delude themselves into optimism about world war three. With a star wars defense, whether it works or not, it will be possible for leaders to convince themselves that victory can be had at little cost and this apparently necessary precondition for war will exist. If star wars works, millions will die on one side. If star wars doesn't work - a significant possibility given the human penchant for error in design and operation - millions will die on both sides. Most of us will probably be included.