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Reagan's final speech in his current defense crusade is expected to offer a recommendation concerning the much disputed MX missile. A presidential panel has been studying ways to deploy the new ICBMS, which remain homeless after three years of basing proposals ranging from race tracks to dense packs. The panel is expected to suggest that a limited number of the mammoth missiles be built and placed in existing silos used by Minuteman ICBMs. The panel is also considering calling for a new, smaller missile, dubbed Midgetman, that could be made mobile and thus less vulnerable to an enemy strike.
With so many crucial defense decisions looming in the coming months, it was distressing that Reagan chose this particular moment to introduce his star wars vision of missile defense forces. The issue of altering fundamental nuclear strategies is far too important to be tossed about either for temporary political impact, or in the name of getting the levels of defense spending that he feels — rightly or wrongly — the nation so urgently needs. Shifting to a system of satellite defenses would require years of careful planning and sincere negotiations with the Soviets, for the idea can never work as a unilateral pursuit or as merely a hostile escalation of the arms race. — By Walter Isaacson. Reported by Laurence L. Barrett and Douglas Brew/ Washington
* Reagan actually proposed such a plan before. It was outlined in a White House position paper on defense in October 1981: "We will expand ballistic missile defense research and development for active defense of land-based missiles. We will develop technologies for space-based missile defense."
* In 1979, President Carter cited with alarm aerial evidence that a 2,000-to 3,000-man Soviet brigade was training and operating in Cuba. He publicly asked that the troops be withdrawn; they are still there.