1ST STORY OF LEVEL 1 PRINTED IN FULL FORMAT.

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: STARGATE
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP96-00787R000200080021-1
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: November 4, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 5, 1998
• Sequence Number: 21
• Publication Date: May 1, 1984
• Content Type: NOTES

Approved For Release 2002/05/17 : CIA-RDP96-00787R000200080021-1
1ST STORY of Level 1 Printed in FULL format.
Copyright (C) 1984 Reuters Ltd
May 1, 1984, Tuesday, AM cycle
SECTION: Domestic News
LENGTH: 512 words
DATELINE: WASHINGTON
KEYWORD: Weinberger
BODY:
Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger said today President Reagan's futuristic
space-based missile defense could be the key to making deep cuts in nuclear
offensive weapons.
He said those who opposed the so-called "Star Wars" defense including
Democratic presidential aspirant Walter Mondale could foreclose the option of
future presidents to make a decision that would profoundly affect the American
people.
Weinberger, in a speech to the National Press Club, said "what we propose is
a policy of deterrence that is based on destroying weapons and not people."
He was rebutting criticism of the space defense plan leveled recently by the
congressional Office of Technology Assessment and the Union of Concern e6
Scientists.
The Strategic Defense Initiative, unveiled by Reagan in March 1983, is based
on using lasers and other high technology to knock out attacking Soviet nuclear
missiles.
The criticism included allegations that such defense is unattainable in the
foreseeable future and its development would violate the U.S.-Soviet
Anti-Ballistic Missile treaty.
Weinberger said research is permitted by the treaty and no deployment is yet
contemplated. Moreover, he said' the administration acknowledged that much
research is still required into a space-based defense.
But he said it was a "possible dream" and "yesterday's science fiction is
really today's reality."
Reagan has asked Congress for $2 billion for "Star Wars" reearch in 1985. and
officials say the entire program could reach $26 billion by the time the defense
is deployed some time round the year 2000.
Weinberger told his audience Mondale's remark that Reagan's space defense
"opens the heavens to warfare" was an offhand comment that ignored the fact that
the Soviet Union had been developing space weapons since 1967.
To drop "Star Wars." Weinberger said, will only freeze the United States into
a position of disadvantage.
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 Approved For Release 2002/05/17 : CIA-RDP96-00787R000200080021-1
(c) 1984 Reuters Ltd., May 1. 1984
The space-based defense, he said, "could be the key step to truly deep cuts
in offensive nuclear weapons."
He also confirmed that the United States had a parapsychological research
program in response to similar Soviet research reportedly into such subjects as
Extra Sensory Perception -- seeking to read the minds of adversaries or sense
the movement of troops, aircraft and ships.
Asked about this. Weinberger said "We look at everything that we think would
be useful." - -
He added: "I wouldn't be prepared to characterize the capability of the
Soviets in this area. It is certain they have been working on it for some time
and it's incumbent that we work on it and be aware of any late developments and
be prepared to avoid anything in the nature of a breakthrough."
He gave no details of U.S. research in this field.
Asked about cuts in the defense budget proposed by Congress. he said Reagan
had already made reductions, and anything further would cause a serious risk to
the national security.
Reagan first asked for $305 billion for 1985, but later cut it by $6 billion
under congressional pressure for reductions to help reduce the budget deficit.
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