Disarmament Can Cut Both Ways

As the Soviets scale back their arms as well, they've come up with a startling idea on how to beat nuclear swords into plowshares while earning some desperately needed hard currency. Commerce Department officials say a Soviet firm called NPO Energiya wants to convert nuclear-missile-bearing submarines into floating launching pads for satellites. The company, which developed booster rockets for the Soviet space shuttle, explains that once the warheads are removed, the sub-borne ballistic missiles can be used to carry commercial payloads into space. On the other hand, will all those unemployed Soviet nuclear experts be put to peaceful use? Despots may...