Star Wars: A Search For Security

Ed Begley, Jr. (St. Elsewhere) is the host of this penetrating look at the SDI (Strategic Defense Initiative) or "Star Wars" program. Proposed by President Reagan in March 1983, this anti-ballistic missile defense system has been the subject of controversy ever since. This short video goes a long way towards dispelling much of the confusion, beginning with an explanation of why Reagan's "safety dome" description of the system is inaccurate. Dr. Gerald Yonas, who heads up the research project on SDI, calls "Star Wars" more of an "obstacle course" than a "dome." He also agrees that, Reagan's broad claims for the system notwithstanding, a "perfect defense is unrealistic." Opponents of the program, such as Dr. John Holdren, point out that there are "far more ways to fail than to succeed." Using the 5% leak estimate, Holdren holds up a riddled umbrella, which has had 5% of its surface removed, and states that in a downpour a person using this umbrella would get soaked likewise, in a nuclear attack, millions of people would end up dead. And Dr. Carl Sagan questions the amount of money that is being spent on a system that can surely be defeated; an amount he estimates will run as high as a trillion dollars. Although incoming President Bush is not a strong proponent of the "Star Wars" program, it would be unrealistic to assume that this issue will merely go away. Too much money has already been funneled into the project. This stimulating video will certainly lay the foundation for informing the general public about what their tax money is being spent on. Highly recommended. (See CARIBOU: NEWFOUNDLAND TO MAINE for availability.)