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IST STORY of Level I Qrinted in FULL format.
CoQvriaht (c) 1984 Reuters Ltd'.
Mav 1, 1984, Tuesday, AM cvcle
SECTION: Domestic News
LENGTH: 512 words
DATELINE: WASHINGTON
KEYWORD: Weinberqer
   BODY'
Defense Secretary Caspar WeinberQer said today President Renan's futuristic
svace-based missile defens'e could be the key to makino deev cuts -in nuclear
o@fensive weapons.
He said those who opposed the so-called "Star Wars" defense includinq
Democratic presidential aspirant Walter Mondale could foreclose the option of
future presidents to make a deci5ion that would profoundly affect the American
people.
Weinberoer, in a speech to the National Press Club, said "what we propose is
a Policy of deterrence that is based on de5trovinq wearions and not people.11
He was rebuttinQ criticism of the space defense plan leveled recently by the
conciressional Office of Technoloav Assessment and the Union of Concerne6
Scientists.
The Strategic Defense Initiative unveiled by Reaqan in March 1983. is based
an usina lasers and other hicih technoloqv to knock out attackinq Soviet nuclear
missiles.
The criticism included alleQations that such defense is unattainable in the
foreseeable future and its development would violate the U.S.-Soviet
Anti-Ballistic Missile treaty.
WeinberQer said research is permitted by the treaty and no deployment is yet
contemolated. Moreover, he said, the administration acknowledoed that much
research is still required into a soace-ba5ed defense.
But fie said it was a "possible dream" and "yesterday's science fiction is
really today's reality.,,
ReaQan has asXed Congre5s for $2 billion for "Star Wars" reearch in 1985. and
officials say the entire oroaram could reach $26 billion by the time the defense
is deployed 50Me time round the year 2000.
WeitiberaEr told his audience Mondale's remark that Reaaan's space defense
11o,Pens the heavens to warfare" was an offhand comment tha-t ignored the fact that
the Soviet Union had been developincl space weapons since 190.
To drov "Star Wars." WeinberQer said, will only freeze the United States into
a position of di5advatitace.
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       The snace-based defense, fie said, "COUld be the kev step to truly deep Cuts
  in offensive tiucl:ear weatio6s.11
       He al5o confirmed that the United States had a parapsychological research
  program in response to similar Soviet research reportedl' into-such subjects as
  Extra Sensory Perception -- 5eeKino to read the mind5 of adversaries or sense
  the movement of troops, aircraft and ships.
       Asked about this. Weinberger said "We look at everything that we think would
  be useful."
       He added: "I wouldn't be prepared to characterize the capability of the
  SOViet5 in this area. It is certain they have been working 'an it f6r some time
  and it'5 incumbent that we work on it and be aware of any late developments and
  be prepared to avoid anything in the nature of a breakthrouqh."
  He gave no details of U.S. research In this field.
       Asked about cuts in the defense budoet proposed by Conaress. fie said Reagan
  had already made reductions, and anvthling 'fUrther would 6-aLlSe 'a serious risk to
  the national security.
       Reaoan first asked for $305 billion for 1985, but later cut it by $6 billion
  under conaressional pressure for reductions to help reduce the budae't deficit.
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