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UNCEASSIFIED
UNGLASSIFIED
5
--
It would also provide greater access to space for a range of
both military and civilian purposes, and it would provide a
prudent and needed counter-weight to the significant effort
that the Soviet Union is already placing in this area.
--
Therefore, the President is considering additional steps
necessary to place increased priority on the development of
U.S. space heavy-lift capability.
The ABM Treaty
--
When we embarked on our SDI research, President Reagan made
the commitment that this program would be conducted in full
compliance with all our legal treaty obligations. He
directed, from its inception, that this program be planned
to meet that commitment, and we have done so.
In October, 1985, the United States completed an extensive
review of the ABM Treaty and the associated negotiating
record which led President Reagan to conclude that a broader
interpretation of our authority under that treaty was fully
justified.
However, at that same time, the President carefully
evaluated the price that the U.S. would be required to pay
to keep our SDI program structured as it was then within the
bounds of the more restrictive view of the ABM Treaty. He
weighed these costs against our overall national security
requirements and the requirements generated by our
commitments to our Allies. Based upon this he decided
that, as long as the program received the support needed to
implement the plan, it was not necessary to authorize the
restructuring of the U.S. SDI program so as to make full use
of the broader interpretation of the ABM Treaty which the
U.S. could justifiably observe.
In taking this action, he noted that, there could be
absolutely no doubt of our intentions to fully meet our
treaty commitments. In sharp contrast to Soviet behavior,
especially in such cases as the construction of the
Krasnoyarsk radar in clear violation of the ABM Treaty, the
President noted that our clear and principled restraint with
respect to our own SDI program, and the price we have paid
to date in exercising that restraint, demonstrates by our
deeds, our sincerity towards negotiated commitments.
Since October, 1985, we have continued to review various
other records and data on this subject. Some additional
work remains to be completed, and the President has asked
that this be accomplished on a priority basis so that we can
respond appropriately to any and all questions concerning
the U.S. position.
UNCLASSiFIE;
SECRET
INCLASSIFIED
SECRET
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"ocrText": "UNCEASSIFIED\nUNGLASSIFIED\n5\n--\nIt would also provide greater access to space for a range of\nboth military and civilian purposes, and it would provide a\nprudent and needed counter-weight to the significant effort\nthat the Soviet Union is already placing in this area.\n--\nTherefore, the President is considering additional steps\nnecessary to place increased priority on the development of\nU.S. space heavy-lift capability.\nThe ABM Treaty\n--\nWhen we embarked on our SDI research, President Reagan made\nthe commitment that this program would be conducted in full\ncompliance with all our legal treaty obligations. He\ndirected, from its inception, that this program be planned\nto meet that commitment, and we have done so.\nIn October, 1985, the United States completed an extensive\nreview of the ABM Treaty and the associated negotiating\nrecord which led President Reagan to conclude that a broader\ninterpretation of our authority under that treaty was fully\njustified.\nHowever, at that same time, the President carefully\nevaluated the price that the U.S. would be required to pay\nto keep our SDI program structured as it was then within the\nbounds of the more restrictive view of the ABM Treaty. He\nweighed these costs against our overall national security\nrequirements and the requirements generated by our\ncommitments to our Allies. Based upon this he decided\nthat, as long as the program received the support needed to\nimplement the plan, it was not necessary to authorize the\nrestructuring of the U.S. SDI program so as to make full use\nof the broader interpretation of the ABM Treaty which the\nU.S. could justifiably observe.\nIn taking this action, he noted that, there could be\nabsolutely no doubt of our intentions to fully meet our\ntreaty commitments. In sharp contrast to Soviet behavior,\nespecially in such cases as the construction of the\nKrasnoyarsk radar in clear violation of the ABM Treaty, the\nPresident noted that our clear and principled restraint with\nrespect to our own SDI program, and the price we have paid\nto date in exercising that restraint, demonstrates by our\ndeeds, our sincerity towards negotiated commitments.\nSince October, 1985, we have continued to review various\nother records and data on this subject. Some additional\nwork remains to be completed, and the President has asked\nthat this be accomplished on a priority basis so that we can\nrespond appropriately to any and all questions concerning\nthe U.S. position.\nUNCLASSiFIE;\nSECRET\nINCLASSIFIED\nSECRET"
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