LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Strategic Defense Initiative (Sdi)
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SDI was criticized for potentially disrupting the strategic doctrine of Mutual Assured Destruction. MAD postulated that intentional nuclear attack was inhibited by the certain ensuing mutual self-destruction. Even if a nuclear first strike destroyed many of the opponent's weapons, sufficient nuclear missiles would survive to render a devastating counter-strike at the attacker. The criticism was that SDI could have potentially allowed an attacker to survive the lighter counter-strike... encouraging a first strike by the side having SDI. Another destabilizing scenario was countries being tempted to strike first before SDI was deployed, thereby avoiding a disadvantaged nuclear posture.
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The SDI mission is deterrence through defense of populations and strategic forces. Perfect technology and 100 percent effectiveness are not required to accomplish this mission. Estimates of SDI's cost predicated on the requirement of constructing a "leakproof umbrella" add immensely and unnecessarily to the cost of strategic defense.
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U.S. PREDICTABILITY INITIATIVES The United States proposes an executive agreement, not tied to the ABM Treaty, on predictability measures in the field of strategic missile defense. The proposal, which is designed to build confidence, would involve the exchange of data on defensive programs, meetings of experts, briefings, visits to laboratories, observations of tests, and notifications of ABM tests.
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[On December 18th, 2002, Ambassador Henry Cooper, former Director of the Defense Department’s Strategic Defense Initiative, spoke before the American Foreign Policy Council’s conference on “Missile Defenses and American Security” in Washington, DC. The following is a rapporteur’s summary of his remarks.]
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SDI has not made nuclear weapons ‘impotent and obsolete.’ Rather, SDI has become a program to enhance nuclear deterrence – adding some defense to the traditionally offensive focus. It has ... enhanced the U.S. first strike capability.
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The key to strategic defense is the tremendous vulnerability of the fast-moving ICBM. Missiles conjure up images of frightening force and speed. In reality... a small rock or even an ice cube placed in the path of an ICBM would destroy it on impact. The reason is that ICBMs are built much like aircrafts—they are thin and fragile, with outer coverings of anodized aluminum and carbon. The electronics are so complicated that the slightest disruption causes a breakdown in the set of reactions that produce explosion. Missiles are built with highly sensitive brains to reduce the risk of accidents as they are transported and lowered into their silos.
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Strategic Defense Initiative (Sdi)