Strategic Defense Initiative: Mocked in the Eighties, Laser Cannon by Boeing Today

Laser cannons that can burn through a missile launcher and leave the car parked next to it untouched are being developed by Boeing. It's hard to remember that back in the eighties, eminent experts solemnly proclaimed Ronald Reagan's Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI, derisively called "Star Wars"), to be a waste of resources.

Exotic weapons like anti-missile systems and laser cannons were regarded with "contempt and disdain, derision and ridicule:" an attitude still cherished¹, although I'd think it is getting harder to maintain.

The anniversary of Reagan's SDI speech passed, over a week ago, with no fanfare.

For those with an interest in history, vision, and common sense, here's commentary, and a transcript of President Reagan's speech,"Address to the Nation on National Security by President Ronald Reagan, March 23, 1983": "Re-visited: Reagan’s Strategic Defense Initiative."

And no, this isn't an April Fool's prank.

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¹"Way Out There in the Blue: Reagan, Star Wars and the End of the Cold War. - book review" Naval War College Review (Spring, 2002) by Roger W. Barnett. Repeated in bnet's FindArticles.com service.