War - Edward Teller
 

Taken from THE ECONOMIST magazine, October 18, 2003, p. 16

LETTERS

"Sir,
I had occasion to speak confidentially with Edward Teller during Ronald Reagan's second term. As he was credited with authorship of the Strategic Defence Initiative ("Star Wars"), I asked him how it came about. He said that Reagan fashioned a bubble with his hands and said, "I wish I could put a protective shield over the country - to keep evil people from doing us harm." Teller told the president his vision was possible.
I asked Teller if it would work. "Now? No," he said and I asked why. He gave a bored shrug: "The technology doesn't exist." This was an astounding admission from the chief architect of Star Wars. Though it failed it is still credited with hastening the downfall of the Soviet Union. Teller displayed a profound lack of interest in the morality of launching a massive programme he knew would not work, and an overriding interest in the morality of defeating America's enemies."

Grant Stockdale
Washington, DC

:q: :af:

It seems to me that Teller told the truth. The concept could work. Reagan did not ask if the technology had already been developed.

Yeah Sarge, exacraly, as Scamp or Boats might say...

That's kinda the take I got too.

If I recall correctly, nobody ASKED anybody to get started on it nor did anyone pony up for the technology! Big difference...

I can just imagine a president saying to a reknowned scientist what Reagan might have said to Teller, "... what I would like is to defend our people with a protective shield."

Works for me!