78-14-B4

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Rostow VI

Transcript Our Secretary of Defense has tried to reassure us by saying that a successful Soviet nuclear strike against our missile silos would be followed with an attack by our submarine-launched missiles against Moscow, Leningrad and other cities. The assumption is that Russia would never launch a first strike and risk our follow-up attack. This is hardly a credible assumption since the Russians have enough nuclear forces for a second strike against our cities. Dr. Rostow, in the address I've been quoting for the past five days, sums up our present policy with these words-- "Our first new bomber in many years -- the B-1 -- has been cancelled. The neutron warhead which might have given NATO a firm shield for 10 years has been remitted to the shades. The U.S. has closed down the Minuteman III production line and delayed the initial operating capability of the missile which was supposed to replace it. MX is on ice for the time being. Furthermore, the Trident (submarine) program has been stretched out." Then he says that, while the President assures us our treaty obligations are still firm and we stand behind our allies in the Pacific and Atlantic, our former chief of naval operations has testified that our navy can't guarantee the sea lanes beyond Hawaii. Secretary of Defense Brown has told the Japanese we cannot assure the naval defense of Japan. We're further reducing our navy and we haven't introduced a new missile system since 1960. The Soviets have unveiled five. Just what is SALT II supposed to do for us? Rostow says-- "Around the world, people are seriously worried about our state of mind. They wonder whether we have the understanding and will to defend ourselves and our interests in world politics, or whether we are in a mood of suicidal appeasement. As the brilliant leader of a moderate sized country in Asia said recently, "the greatest external threat (to his nation) is the weakness of the West. The West is paralyzed and divided." Our goal is a stable peace. Who has ever met an American who favored war with the Soviet Union? Rostow concludes with the warning that the Soviet rulers will expand their power as long as the risks are not excessive. His closing lines should be heard by every American. "The kind of SALT agreement the administration is so frantically trying to sell the country is not a step toward detente or toward peace, but an act of appeasement which can only invite more Soviet pressure and more risk. It would freeze us in a position of inferiority, deny us the opportunity to redress the balance, weaken our alliances and isolate us. It would be a step toward war, not peace." Those are the thoughts of an unquestioned liberal, a scholar who desires peace above all and who finally spoke out because he thinks we could be on the road to war. This is Ronald Reagan. Thanks for listening.		Details Batch Number 78-14-B4 Production Date 10/10/1978 Book/Page RihoH-98 Audio Youtube? No
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