James R. Shaefer`s letter argues that those who oppose pursuing the Strategic Defense Initiative because it is ”ineffective, too expensive, technically unfeasible” are ”unimaginative, incompetent and
uncomprehending.”
On the contrary, American science, with its extraordinary intelligence and technology, can put in place a system that would protect the United States against Soviet missiles, given enough time and money. However, what would happen than? Soviet science would then put in place a system to counteract our system. But then, given enough time and money, we could put in place a system to counteract the system that is counteracting our system.
It is the never-ending pursuit of the ”ultimate” defense that makes the arms race such a vulgar and obscene waste of human creativity and ingenuity.
