The STRATEGIC DEFENSE INITIATIVE
The Strategic Defense Initiative was a project based on a series of abstract ideas of defending the U.S. with technology that destroys nuclear missles from outer space. These ideas that seemed so unrealistic earned it the nickname "Star Wars". Most of these ideas of defense included lasers, X-Rays, subatomic particle beams, and computer-guided progectile missles. They believed new technological advances could help them Achieve this goal.
Excerpt from Reagan's SDI Speech:
"I submitted to the Congress a defense budget which reflects my best judgment of the best understanding of the experts and specialists who advise me about what we and our allies must do to protect our people in the years ahead. That budget is much more than a long list of numbers, for behind all the numbers lies America's ability to prevent the greatest of human tragedies and preserve our free way of life in a sometimes dangerous world. It is part of a careful, long-term plan to make America strong again after too many years of neglect and mistakes.
Our efforts to rebuild America's defenses and strengthen the peace began 2 years ago when we requested a major increase in the defense program. Since then, the amount of those increases we first proposed has been reduced by half, through improvements in management and procurement and other savings.
The budget request that is now before the Congress has been trimmed to the limits of safety. Further deep cuts cannot be made without seriously endangering the security of the Nation. The choice is up to the men and women you've elected to the Congress, and that means the choice is up to you."
Our efforts to rebuild America's defenses and strengthen the peace began 2 years ago when we requested a major increase in the defense program. Since then, the amount of those increases we first proposed has been reduced by half, through improvements in management and procurement and other savings.
The budget request that is now before the Congress has been trimmed to the limits of safety. Further deep cuts cannot be made without seriously endangering the security of the Nation. The choice is up to the men and women you've elected to the Congress, and that means the choice is up to you."
Despite constant efforts and $30 billion being invested into it, the project was set aside. It was later confirmed a failure due to global pressure and budgetary constraints. The ideas were too out of reach for Americans to achieve even with new advances in technology. The U.S. feared the Soviet Union would attempt to have their own outer space defense system and succeed. The U.S. wanted a large "Anti-ballistic missle" approach, but feared that it would cause even more ten