The Times Poll : Public Backs ‘Star Wars,’ Hopes for Arms Control

A majority of Americans support President Reagan’s plan for a space-based missile defense system and his decision not to use that project as an arms control bargaining chip, but in the long run they believe the United States and the Soviet Union should outlaw space weapons, a Los Angeles Times Poll has found.

In a survey of Americans’ attitudes toward a number of critical issues likely to be raised when Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail S. Gorbachev meet today and Wednesday in Geneva, a strong sentiment in favor of arms control and superpower accommodation emerged.

The views of those questioned reflects a strong consensus favoring limits on a variety of weapons projects, a belief that the United States has sufficiently built up its arsenals and a continuing undercurrent of fear--expressed by a sizable minority--of the likelihood of nuclear war.

Of seven likely topics of discussion at the summit conference, the first such meeting in 6 1/2 years, disarmament was given top priority by those surveyed.

But strong support was also expressed for resolution of regional conflicts, typified by the guerrilla war in Afghanistan and the low-level combat waged by anti-government forces in El Salvador and Nicaragua. In public statements, most notably in a speech at the United Nations last month, Reagan has emphasized the need for superpower discussions about these matters.

In addition, such issues as human rights and outlawing the deployment of nuclear weapons in space are also considered important by those polled.

And, while the idea of a missile defense characterized by the “Star Wars” project, known formally as the Strategic Defense Initiative, wins considerable public support, the potential cost of such a system is a point of major concern.

The poll was conducted by telephone from Nov. 1 to 7. The sampling error of the survey of 2,041 people around the nation is plus or minus 3%, meaning that results could vary by three percentage points in either direction if all Americans were surveyed in the same way.

Of those questioned, 50% said nuclear disarmament is the most important topic that should be discussed by the two leaders. Seeking peace in regional trouble spots was ranked next, followed by human rights and the outlawing of nuclear weapons in space.

Despite the interest in disarmament, however, 83% said the United States should wait to reduce its nuclear arsenal until the Soviets also cut back, while 11% said such a reduction should begin in this nation without waiting for Soviet action.

The survey found confusion and uncertainty about the “Star Wars” research program, which is intended to determine whether it is feasible to build a defense network using weapons based in space against long-range strategic missiles. A clear majority--58% to 30%--believes that the United States should develop a “Star Wars” system. Of those who approve of the development, 65% believe the United States should proceed with it regardless of whether it violates the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty imposing limits on missile defenses.

Total Ban Preferred

But when asked specifically whether the two superpowers should outlaw the use of all weapons in outer space, 61% said they favor such a ban and 31% oppose it. The result apparently reflects not only a strong sentiment in favor of arms control in general, but also strong opposition to an escalation of the “Star Wars” program into a full-bore arms race in the heavens.

A majority of those polled said they do not think Reagan should use “Star Wars” as a bargaining chip in Geneva to gain reductions in Soviet nuclear weapons. But, by a margin of 2 to 1, they said they feel that Reagan was attempting to appear adamant about not bargaining away the program in order to remain in the best negotiating position.

Concern about the potential nuclear aspects of such a system formed a strong thread throughout many responses, and 77% said they would prefer a non-nuclear “Star Wars” system to one dependent upon nuclear weaponry.

In addition, slightly more than one-quarter said the program would increase the chances of war, while 54% said it would increase chances of peace. But at the same time, a majority thought that if either superpower developed a space-based missile defense, such a system would be threatening to the other side. Meanwhile, 54% opposed a situation in which the United States and Soviet Union would share their nuclear defense research, while 39% favored it.

The Administration wants to spend $26 billion on the initial five-year research program before the more costly weapons development and deployment could begin. A majority of 59% of those surveyed said the price tag is too high, 27% said they think it is the right amount to spend on the project and 7% said it is insufficient. The rest were undecided.

The response meshed with other results in the poll showing that the public thought too much was being spent on the military and not enough on domestic concerns.

Divided on Moratorium

Those polled expressed strong sentiment for a variety of arms control measures, although they were nearly evenly divided over whether the United States should join the current, six-month Soviet moratorium on nuclear weapons tests.

However, by a margin of nearly 7 to 2, they said they favor an agreement under which the United States would not increase the number of medium-range missiles it is deploying in Europe, as part of the modernization of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s nuclear arsenal, if the Soviets agree to cut back the medium-range missiles they have aimed at Western Europe.

A strong majority of those polled said they favor some form of U.S.-Soviet agreement on nuclear weapons, either by freezing nuclear weapons at current levels, a step the Administration contends would favor the Soviet Union; reducing the size of the current stockpile, or destroying all nuclear weapons. Such an accord was opposed by 12%.

Two-thirds of those polled said the United States has enough nuclear weapons, while 19% said more should be built. CONFLICTING VIEWS ON ‘STAR WARS’

Americans for the most part favor development of President Reagan’s space-based missile defense system, but are uncertain about its effectiveness and cost.

Taking all things into consideration, do you think the United States should develop a Strategic Defense Initiative--”Star Wars”--or not? Should develop 58% Should not develop 30% Not sure 11% Refuse to answer 1% On the whole, do you think President Reagan’s Strategic Defense Initiative is more likely to increase the chances of peace, or increase the chances of war? Increase chances of peace 54% Increase chance of war 28% Not change chances 6% Not sure 11% Refused to answer 1% From what you have read or heard, how do you think “Star Wars” is likely to be effective? Do you think it will someday be a leakproof umbrella against enemy missiles, or will it be able to reduce the number of missiles that can get through, or will it be effective against enemy satellites, or will it be able to protect small areas where missiles are stored, or do you think a Star Wars system will never be effective at all? Leakproof umbrella 10% Reduce missiles 32% Against satellites 5% Small areas 6% Not effective 22% Not sure 24% Refused to answer 1% Although no one has yet estimated how much it will cost to develop “Star Wars,” President Reagan has asked for a total of $26 billion over the next five years for research on the Strategic Defense Initiative. Considering the current budget situation, would you say that’s too much to spend on research, or is it about the right amount, or would you say it isn’t enough? Too much 59% About right 27% Not enough 7% Not sure 7% Source: Los Angeles Times Poll