"What's New" 03/28/86

[Richard Piner]

Posted: Fri Mar 28, 1986 4:03 PM EST Msg: EGIG-2221-5011
From: RPARK
To: WHATSNEW
Subj: What's New, Friday 28 March 1986 Washington, DC

1. PHYSICISTS GAVE STAR WARS A DECISIVE "NO" VOTE in a poll
conducted by Peter D. Hart Research Associates, a nationally
respected public opinion research firm. The nationwide poll
was taken at the request of the Union of Concerned
Scientists. By almost two-to-one, physicists view the
Strategic Defense Initiative as a step in the wrong
direction for America's national security policy. Among
those who professed a high level of familiarity with SDI,
the ratio was even higher. Even among those who derive a
majority of their funding from the Department of Defense,
only 38% thought it was a step in the right direction. The
vote represents a stunning repudiation of the Star Wars
concept by the group generally considered to be in the best
position to judge its technical merits. The results of the
poll were released on the third anniversary of President
Reagan's Star Wars speech. (Details are available from the
Union of Concerned Scientists, 1616 P Street NW, Washington,
DC 20036)

2. THE STRATEGIC DEFENSE EDUCATION ACT OF 1986 (S-2117) has
been introduced by Senator Larry Pressler (R-SD). Patterned
after the National Defense Education Act of 1958, which was
enacted in response to the launching of Sputnik, S-2117
would provide support to college and university research
programs. It includes a graduate fellowship program for
talented students pursuing advanced degrees in areas of
"national need" and also offers tax incentives to encourage
private industry to increase their involvement in university
research. The unfortunate title Senator Pressler has given
the bill may frighten off much of the support such
legislation might otherwise expect from the academic
community.

3. A DELIBERATE DISINFORMATION POLICY intended to impede
the transfer of accurate technological information to the
Soviet Union is being conducted by the DoD in conjunction
with the CIA, according to an article in Aviation Week (17
Mar). Four members of the Senate Budget Committee, clearly
concerned that such a program could be used to mislead
Americans to gain support for programs such as SDI, have
called for an investigation. They were not reassured when
Lt. Col. Simon Worden, an assistant to Star Wars Director
General Abrahamson, remarked that the Soviets have been
provided with classified briefings on SDI. Thus, the
Soviets may be better informed about SDI than Americans.
General Abrahamson, however, contended that the briefings
were classified only because they relate to ongoing
negotiations. Cynics are saying that a program of
disinformation does not represent a change in policy.

Robert L. Park (202) 429-1946
American Physical Society THAT'S ALL 3/28/86