I applaud the U.S. military for its development of the Miracl laser weapon at White Sands, N.M. (Main news, Sept. 1). The Pentagon and any other necessary authority should give permission for the satellite destruction test for three reasons:
– An orbiting satellite serves as a good surrogate for an enemy’s payload or suborbital missile.
– “Killer” laser weapons will proliferate.
– Such a test will serve as a demonstration of our technological ability. One hopes that it will generate popular support for a domestic land-based missile defense system.
We are now in the future of warfare. A laser is preferable to a nuclear weapon because of the former’s accuracy and absence of a fallout threat. War has not disappeared, and no international treaty will prevent someone else from building a similar weapon with nefarious intent. Additionally, the satellite destruction test could yield data on the possibility of vaporizing or reducing the size of orbiting space junk or small asteroids.
The Miracl is a breakthrough in science, providing a better and “cleaner” weapon of mass destruction that just may make our enemies rethink their chances of successfully attacking and triumphing over the United States. It would be irresponsible to disallow further work on the one weapon that could have its greatest effect as a deterrent to war.
