The Strategic Defence Initiative Flashcards
When and who announced the strategic defense initiative ?
23 March 1983
President Reagan
What was SDI named by the media ?
‘Star wars’
What was SDJ a plan for ?
A ground and space based, laser armed anti ballistic missile system that, if deployed, would shield against missiles launched at the US destroying them in the process
What happened four days after President Reagan’s announcement of SDI?
Andropov spoke out firmly
He accused the USA of preparing a first strike attack on the Soviet Union whilst accusing Reagan of insisting Nuclear warfare
What did Andropov see SDI as ?
Giving the USA an advantage in any conflict and would then readily consider tactical nuclear war
Why did SDI present an enormous problem for the Soviets ?
Andropov and his advisor realised Star Wars program meant that they would have to spend even more money on armaments in order to compete with the USA
What was the problem with the soviet economy ?
It was already experiencing our lens and renewed arms spending might destroy it complexity
Part of Reagan’s plan was that the Soviet Union would try to compete and in doing so its economy would collapse
What was the Soviet Union behind the US on other than economy ?
Computer technology
During the 1980’s the American computer market boomed however soviet leaders were highly suspicious of computers as they thought it could undermine the power of the communist party in the Soviet Union as it could allow for the production of anti communist propaganda
What did SDI mean for the arms race ?
It meant the Soviet Union could no longer compete in the arms race
