‘Dealing With a Deadlock’

Some people are now justifying SDI by arguing that SDI is what brought the Soviets to the bargaining table. That may be true, but, if so, what can we expect them to do at the bargaining table?

If SDI brought them there, then their purpose can only be to find a way to get us to trade it away. And if that is the case, then why would anyone who thinks we should hang on to SDI be glad that they want to bargain? Why would he/she use that as justification for our keeping SDI?

In other words, if we are not willing to use SDI as a bargaining chip, then it doesn’t make sense to value it because it brought the Soviets to the bargaining table. And if we are willing to use it as a bargaining chip, then what kind of deal are we looking for?

JOHN G. FLICK

Redondo Beach