Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-09-04
Defense and the ICBM

1t Is one thing to experiment with
a revolutionary new weapon, and an
other thing to produce quantities Of 1t
in effective operational form. Thus. as
President Eisenhower has just suggested,
the Russians, even though they may
have moved ahead of us bit in success
fully testing an intercontinental ballis-
tic missile, still are very probably a long
way from arming themselves with such
. destroyer in way that would have
significant effect on the present balance
Of military power between our world and
the world behind the Iron Curtain.
The day is coming, of course, when
this weapon Of almost indescribable
deadlineSs will be altogether workable
and available in rather large numbers,
enough so to make obsolete many, II not
all, Of the most advanced man-piloted
Jet bombers and fighter planes. But
meanwhile, perhaps for the next 10
years, or maybe even for a period con-
siderably longer than that, the hombers
and 1ghters-again as the President has
suggested-will continue to be instru-
ments Of the greatest military impor-
lance. Meanwhile, too, 1t is by no means
inconceivable that antimissile missiles
will be developed to cope effectively with
the enormous and unprecedented men,
ace implicit in the so-called ICBM.
Such a possibility, which is in keep
ing with the old axiom about how every
offensive weapon leads to a countering
defensive weapon, and vice versa, is now
being taken pretty much for granted by
people who should know. General Earle
E. Partridge, for example, has made clear
in an interview with U. s. News & World
Report that the idea-even though it
stretches his Imagination as chief of the
North American Air Defense Command
has been so impresSively set forth by
our scientists that every effort should
be made to translate it into reality as
quickly as possible. Not to be overlooked
in that connection is the announcement
that came out Of Columbia University
last month. Although it received reIa-
lively little attention at the time. the
announcement may well have been one
OF the most significant Of the decade
. statement hailing the achievement
OF major chronological breakthrough
vastly increasing the effectiveness of
radar both as detecting instrument
and as an instrument capable Of being
harnessed to electronic computing ma
chimes for intercepting and DESTROYING
attacking planes, and presumably mis-
siles as well.
The mind is staggered when 1t tries
to envision the ICBM travelling at a
speed Of $4,000 miles an hour to targets
continents away. This seems to be the
ultimate" or absolute" weapon. Just
one such destroyer, equipped with n.y.
drogen-bomb warhead would be capable
Of obliterating the biggest city in the
world. Yet. despite all the awesomeness
Of its potentialities, it is not necessarily
the last word. At any rate, as General
Partridge and others have suggested.
radar and mechanical brains-operatin9
In marvellous concert Of automation-
hold out the promise of good defenses
against it, and the promise is one that
should be exploited now, without delay
and regardless Of cost.
From all Of this we can draw A de-
gree of comfort. Still, we must admit
that the ICBM, when 1t becomes OPERA
tional In the arsenals Of the world. will
be constant threat to human existence.
Defense may be possible, or even prob
able. against 1t, but not thorough, fool
proof defense.