Why Our Defenses Are Down

Mirv is one of the most significant and most misunderstood recent developments in strategic weaponry. Administration spokesmen cite MIRV as one of the primary justifications for the Safeguard ABM system, while its opponents contend that MIRV makes Safeguard both unnecessary and unworkable.

The debate is misleading. It is suggested, for instance, that U.S. defense planning is dominated by an insidious Military-Industrial Complex that is forcing the expenditure of billions of dollars on unnecessary and unworkable weaponry. In reality the decisions to deploy MIRV and Safeguard are probably two of the most obviously necessary actions ever taken by the Department of Defense.

MB

About the Author

Mark B. Schneider

Mirv is one of the most significant and most misunderstood recent developments in strategic weaponry. Administration spokesmen cite MIRV as one of the primary justifications for the Safeguard ABM system, while its opponents contend that MIRV makes Safeguard both unnecessary and unworkable.

The debate is misleading. It is suggested, for instance, that U.S. defense planning is dominated by an insidious Military-Industrial Complex that is forcing the expenditure of billions of dollars on unnecessary and unworkable weaponry. In reality the decisions to deploy MIRV and Safeguard are probably two of the most obviously necessary actions ever taken by the Department of Defense.