TAW@S1-A@sri-unix (11/18/82)
From: Tom Wadlow <TAW at S1-A> Perhaps I should define the terms I have been using. High Frontier is the name of a proposed ABM system that was generated by the Heritage Foundation, and subsequently presented to the president. It consists of a point defense (Swarmjet missles) for missle silos and a bunch of orbital platforms with interceptor missiles. It was designed with quick implementation and low cost in mind. In addition, it is designed to foster the growth of space industry, as well as be a defensive weapons system. It was not generated by the Department of Defense. There are indeed proposals for orbital ABM systems involving particle beams and lasers, but they have been originated by DoD. These systems do little, if any, good to the national economy or to the promotion of industrial expansion into space. It seems to me that if we can reach a stage where both the US and USSR have a reasonable ABM system, we will be a lot better off than we are today. The system becomes stable (more or less) at that point, rather than the critically damped system of MAD. In addition, the presense of an ABM system gives you one more step of indirection before The Big One. Another chance for everybody to calm down and think things through.