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- 4 -
--
But when any debate focuses on symbols, the facts of the
matter lose all their meaning.
- -
The fact is that the Safeguard anti-missile defense is
essential to our national security. It is a specific defense designed to meet
specific threats, and not a key to unlock the door to unlimited spending. We
have built in automatic review procedures. Safeguard's cost and extent of
deployment can be reduced as the threat is reduced.
- -
If the President is told today that missiles are heading for the
U.S. 1, by design or accident - he has only two choices. He can wait or
fire on warning. Safeguard gives him a third choice.
- -
When you think the unthinkable long and hard, as I am sworn to
do, I believe you will come to this conclusion: Our national security demands
that we provide for the possibility of a restrained reaction. Safeguard provides
the possibility of a third choice -- restraint without catastrophe.
--
Let us set aside the symbolism that obscures the real issue and
get to the heart of the matter. Does a threat to our deterrent exist? I say it
does. Will the Safeguard defense work? I believe it will for the purposes for
which it is designed. Will it help a President of the United States, whoever
he may be, discharge his responsibility to negotiate a just peace for the
world of the Seventies? For the time being, I carry that responsibility, and
my answer is yes.
9.
But the issue goes beyond Safeguard. Many of its critics use
it as a pretext for a general assault upon the entire defense establishment.
10.
To a small but articulate group of critics, our military
establishment is viewed less as the custodian of Western
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"ocrText": "- 4 -\n--\nBut when any debate focuses on symbols, the facts of the\nmatter lose all their meaning.\n- -\nThe fact is that the Safeguard anti-missile defense is\nessential to our national security. It is a specific defense designed to meet\nspecific threats, and not a key to unlock the door to unlimited spending. We\nhave built in automatic review procedures. Safeguard's cost and extent of\ndeployment can be reduced as the threat is reduced.\n- -\nIf the President is told today that missiles are heading for the\nU.S. 1, by design or accident - he has only two choices. He can wait or\nfire on warning. Safeguard gives him a third choice.\n- -\nWhen you think the unthinkable long and hard, as I am sworn to\ndo, I believe you will come to this conclusion: Our national security demands\nthat we provide for the possibility of a restrained reaction. Safeguard provides\nthe possibility of a third choice -- restraint without catastrophe.\n--\nLet us set aside the symbolism that obscures the real issue and\nget to the heart of the matter. Does a threat to our deterrent exist? I say it\ndoes. Will the Safeguard defense work? I believe it will for the purposes for\nwhich it is designed. Will it help a President of the United States, whoever\nhe may be, discharge his responsibility to negotiate a just peace for the\nworld of the Seventies? For the time being, I carry that responsibility, and\nmy answer is yes.\n9.\nBut the issue goes beyond Safeguard. Many of its critics use\nit as a pretext for a general assault upon the entire defense establishment.\n10.\nTo a small but articulate group of critics, our military\nestablishment is viewed less as the custodian of Western"
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