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From the Tulsa World, Aug. 14, 1995

Pork, Republican Style

Right-wing Republicans in Congress are pushing a bill that would force the Pentagon to develop a multi-site national missile defense system by 2003. This is the latest incarnation of the Star Wars program, a science-fiction anti-missile system that blossomed during the Reagan administration.

There are many reasons why this outrageously expensive scheme should be put to sleep once and for all.

First, it would have to work perfectly in order to protect American cities and military bases from nuclear weapons. It would do little good to knock down 19 out of 20 nuclear-tipped missiles aimed at, say, New York. The 20th bomb would do the job. Anyone who works with computers and other electronic equipment knows from personal experience that this goal of perfect performance is impossible.

Even if science could find a perfect way to frustrate a missile weapons system with a 100-percent success rate, the same science could just as easily find the means to frustrate the anti-missile system. So, the next logical step would be an anti-anti-missile system, a weapon to knock out or to disable the anti-missile defense system. It wouldn't have to be disabled completely--just enough to get a few nuclear devices through the `shield.'

But there are more urgent reasons why this is a bad idea. It would violate the 1972 anti-ballistic missile treaty with the former Soviet Union. This pointless provocation does not reduce the risk of nuclear war. It increases it.

Finally, it is an insult to the budget-balancing process. It is unbelievable that this wasteful scheme is being advanced at the same time Americans are being asked to accept cuts in such things as education, care for the elderly and medical help for the poor.

John Isaacs, spokesman for an arms control advocacy group, explained part of the problem: `Defending pork is a bipartisan pastime. It is endorsed by both Democrats and Republicans.'

Star Wars is the right-wing Republican version of pork.