Chat with Chic, April 3, 1985

Chat with Chic April 3, 1985 A Report from Washington By U.S. Senator Chic Hecht The United States has not deployed a new land based strategic missile in 15 years. During that time, the Soviets have deployed four new missiles and are developing two additional systems, in an unprecedented and relentless nuclear build-up. While the Soviets have been moving ahead, America was falling behind. The current American ICBM force consists of 550 Minuteman Ills, 450 Minuteman lis, and about 30 Titan lis. All of these missiles were developed before 1971. By contrast, the Soviet ICBM force is 3-5 times as powerful as the U.S. ICBM force. President Reagan's push for the MX or Peacekeeper missile is based on the recommendations of the bipartisan Scowcroft Commission which the President established in 1983. The MX is vital to our national security and the continued deployment will improve the chances of reaching an arms control agreement with the Soviet Union that is fair and equitable to the United States. How can deployment of the MX lead to arms reductions? The Scowcroft Commission stated that arms control negotiations are heavily influenced by on-going defense programs and should the MX not be deployed the Soviets would be led to believe that U.S. forces could be limited without negotiation. Chat with Chic, page 2 The crux of our national defense is the triad of land-based missiles, sea-based missiles and bombers. The Peacekeeper is part of a larger modernization program of our overall nuclear forces. The triad must be upgraded. I'm pleased the House joined with the Senate in funding this weapon. President Reagan is right on target. His "war through weakness, peace through strength" approach has finally nudged the Soviets back to Geneva. Perhaps it should be renamed the "Peacemaker.