Energy To shoot at the current 1400 Soviet ballistic missiles would require 60 per generating capacity of the US, accorpower plant alone would exceed $100 billion, only part of the total outlay. The technologies for constructing the tne laser and int compounded and feasibility stretched to the limit if Moscow were to increase the number of targets by building more Meanwhile the US lasers. These would most likely be launched into space after detecting a Soviet ICBM launch. The laser itself would be would damage the boosters' skins with a powerful x-ray pulse the scheme untenable include design improvements in booster rocket 'skin' subatomic particles have also been proposed for a space-based missile detence •stille When such beams strike a missile, DISE LIC senionelco 'chips' in the ICBM's guidance system. But like the x-ray laser, the beams cannot penetrate the atmosphere. So a new generation of short-firing boosters also would, they undetectable by this weapon's tracking Contributors include:
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London N1 A Socialist Action pamphlet on the future of Europe Ernest Mandel on the reunification of Germany, Gunter Minnerup on the East European peace movements, Oliver Macdonald on the Labour Party defence document, and John Ross on social dislocation in Europe Available from Socialist Action, PO Box 50,
THE ROW between the United States and New Socialist Action 22 February 1985 mouth of Tokyo Bay.