Well there was some will around and the capitalists always have money for war. So a number of experis all employed aerospace corporations volunteered to help out.
Despite the initial however, prophets don't always get beeded in their own land. The Pentagon snubbed Wallop that the Department of Defence quite capable of deciding what best for the future of the US Then in 1981 the Department of Defence published its own study which was more or less the same as Hunter's paper proposed. Pentagon claimed that the balance of forces be transformed if the US space laser arms race. To do this, according to the Pentagon, combat laser stations must be put into space and then not only would America's defences be secure but it would take a decisive lead over the USSR in offensive warfare.
Following the Pentagon report the Heritage Foundation — a rightwing backed research organisation published High Frontier - A New National Strategy. This docupent made even the Pentagon's proposals look rather pacifist. The Heritage Foundation making outer space into a US fortress. Not only did they want laser combat stations in orbit but they were enthusiastic supporters baaaching devices which generate tromagnetic pulses, ballistic missiles. Heritage proposed to send up 432 satellites which could carry microwave, laser and other defensive weapons. ap this armada they proposed the extensive use of manned spaceships and orbiting stations.
This escalation of military terror proposed initially by and then supported by the Pentagon and the Heritage Foundation found an enthusiastic Ronald Reagan who in March and July 1983 rhapsodised in famous speeches about 'presence in space' saying the US should'... capitalise on the tremendous potential offered altimate frontier of space.' Reagan's former advisor Clarke pointed out Reagan. sen keen on laser weapons for a by big support - saying long time. understandable The completely won the proposed committee Reagan's ideas on space wars.
laser guns of technologically. would elecready for action. for attacking SHei Altair two-stage rocket To top hit space targets. these planes Virginia and Washington.
Hunter trolled by the lan in America's ministration.
these weapons by the As William of air borne has Socialist Action 27 January 1984 UNITED STATES Mind that for one-time Governor of California. That state is the centre of the US military-industrial complex and those giant firms hadn't put their money into Reagan's election campaign chest because they liked his old movies.
The top military brass were also delighted with their new 'toys'. As. Colonel G Rye from the National Security Council said: "The President has recognised that we are entering a new era in space.' Kahn one of the USA's leading strategists talked about Reagan making a 'revolution' in strategic thinking. Anxious not to waste any time Secretary of Defence Caspar Weinburg immediately set up an ad hoc for elaborating As of the beginning of 1984 the aren't quite ready But the anti-missiles and anti-satellite systems are being built and will soon be sostell 1S nearly finished. This combines the SramF-15 fighter which it will launch to Squadrons of will be stationed in Just to make sure that civilians don't start meddling in things they shouldn't, these planes will be conSpace Defence Operations and this body will take the space shuttle out of the control of NASA the civil air space adGiven the opportunities which open up the airospace corporations have inundated the Pentagon with a diversity destructive systems.
The idea behind all this is for the setting up of a new military wing of the US services — a US space force - and to help this patriotic cause, the big corporations are only too willing to sell the US government the necessary hardware.
Needless to say some people, even in the US are a bit dubious about the so-called defensive intentions of these weapons. Brown, a former US Secretary of Defence thinks the space gramme might turn out to be nightmare'. Simon Ramo American physicist asks will 'this technique be used only to knock out missiles in the sky? If its such a good technique, why not use it to knock out things on the ground?' Ramo is right. The real function of these weapons is offensive.
Washington's claim that they are meant to repulse a nuclear first strike' by the USSR is nonsense. Most US experts reckon that the present level of technology not allow for the building of any anti-Ballistic Missile system that can guarantee absolute protection of a country against a first nuclear strike.
The orbiting laser guns however may not be able to stop the first strike but they are not being built at Futuristic laser-beam weapons offer the possibility of making ballistic warfare obsolete, but the technology is costly and complex -and it does not yet exist colossal expense for nothing. they have their defensive weapons they have their enormous advantages as offensive weapons.
The US military star war weapons for the purpose of the so called pre-emptive strike.
Harold While the laser and space systems could not knock out a Soviet attack pro- they could deal weaker response after an American first strike. Orbitting laser guns are another dreadful step by American imperialism along the path towards a third world war.
But they should also remind us of one thing. The United States is the greatest technological power in the world.
It is also the only country in the world ever to weapons in war.
States ever
does technological superiority over the Soviet Union defence to unleash a nuclear war without itself suffering retribution then the US ruling class would launch that war without hesitation.
If anyone should just study military thinking.