1. Fill in the blanks: (answers to this question found at the bottom of this page)

In a)_________________, President Ronald Reagan announced an innovative change in our entire defense strategy, a program labeled the b)______________________ and known simply as SDI. SDI was a defensive shield against c)_______________________.

"MAD," also called d)______________________ assumed that no one would launch a nuclear first strike because the other side would respond in kind, resulting in e)_____________________________ of both sides.

Reagan wanted to create a defensive weapon that could intercept incoming nuclear weapons and destroy them before f)____________________________.

2. a) What is MAD?
b) What is Ronald Reagan's SDI policy?

3. What is the problem with using MAD to keep our country safe from nuclear attack, according to Mr. Weinberger? (see para. 13-14 and 21 for the answer)

4. What do you think Mr. Weinberger's purpose was for writing this commentary?

5. What do you think of Mr. Weinberger's assertion that Ronald Reagan was right in changing the U.S.'s defense strategy from MAD to SDI, based on the premise that the real way to ensure our safety - establishing a means to intercept and destroy strategic nuclear missiles - eliminates the threat of an enemy's nuclear weapons program?