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Space Weapons and the Strategic Defense Initiative

(Iowa State University Press, Ames, Iowa, 1991)

From the Epilogue, written in early 1990: 
"Using a strategic defense to protect against Third World missiles
carrying chemical or nuclear weapons is similar to using an elephant 
gun to protect against killer bees.  Iraq is one of few countries 
with missiles, and these missiles are short range (they can reach 
Israel) and fly too low for a strategic defense to counter.  
Furthermore, although Third World missiles could never come anywhere 
close to the United States, chemical or nuclear weapons could be 
delivered to the United States on ships or aircraft.  A strategic 
defense provides no protection against available means of third world 
weapon delivery or against terrorism.  Possible Third World threats 
provide no justification for an expensive missile defense."


Since early 1990 we have had:

* War with Iraq in 1991, in which Iraq hit Israel with Scud 
missiles, the countering of which our Patriot defensive missiles 
were 0.0% effective (completely useless).

* Heightened concern about how close Iraq was to creating nuclear
weapons, as well as evidence they used chemical weapons on our 
troops in the Gulf War.

* Terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in 1993, killing 6.

* Domestic terrorism in Oklahoma City in 1995, killing 173.

* Terrorist bombings of US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998.

* Terrorist bombing of the USS Cole in 2000.

* Massive terrorist hijacked plane attacks on New York and 
Washington, DC, in 2001, in which 3,000 were slaughtered, the 
World Trade Center Towers were utterly destroyed, and the Pentagon 
was partly destroyed.

* U.S. strikes at the Taliban and Al Quaeda terrorists in
Afghanistan, and subsequent invasion of Iraq.

* Al Quaeda terrorist bombings since 911 in Bali (killing nearly 200), 
in the Phillipines, in Saudi Arabia, in Spain (killing hundreds 
and injuring close to 2,000), in London, and in Jordan.  They are 
dedicated to random slaughter of civilians and are not going away.

* Almost daily terrorist attacks in Iraq that have killed hundreds of 
Iraqui civilians as well as U.S. troops.

* A heightened concern about the threat of biological (anthrax 
and smallpox), chemical, and nuclear weapons in Third World 
countries by terrorists.

-- "Dr. Grabbe's analysis of space weapons provides the general 
public with a timely discussion of the prospects and problems of
the Strategic Defense Initiative, with particular emphasis on the
implications for nuclear arms and arms control.  The glossary, 
chronology, and appendices provide a useful reference on this 
topic."
 
John Pike, Director
Space Policy Project 
Federation of American Scientists

-- "Grabbe has written an excellent analysis of SDI ...  His work 
... is an essential acquisition for university libraries."
 
Choice

-- "This excellent volume provides a comprehensive discussion of 
space weaponry from a political and scientific perspective ... 
The book provides a handy reference work on the subjects ...  The 
volume is profusely illustrated with drawings and charts, and 
contains 100 pages of appendices, notes, an index and glossary.  
Its usefulness is enhanced ... by inclusion of the text of more 
than a half-dozen treaties ... appendices provide easily 
understandable explanations ...
 
Journal of Space Law

-- "... easily read and interesting treatise on SDI."
 
Sci-Tech News

 
--"Many thanks for the draft of your book ... which I find 
comprehensive, honest, and timely.  [It includes] material 
that the public does not often have opportunity to see..."
 
Letter from Prof. Carl Sagan
Astronomer, Cornell University

 
--"Thank you for sending me the draft of your fine book.  
This is just what I hoped you would be able to complete with your 
excellent notes..."
 
Letter from Dr. Abdus Salaam
Nobel prize in physics, 1967
Director, International Center for Theoretical Physics
Trieste, Italy

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