Star Wars Flashcards
(4 cards)
1
Q
What was SDI?
A
Strategic Defence Initiative
-Anti-nuclear defence system that could destroy nuclear weapons in space, before they reached their targets
2
Q
What was Gorbachev’s reaction to SDI?
A
Gorbachev feared American possession of this technology
3
Q
How did SDI ruin the USSR economically?
A
Soviets feared SDI would work and continued heavily funded their nuclear weapons programmes to remain competitive and deter West from taking action
-SDI instrumental in internal collapse of USSR
4
Q
How did SDI ruin the USSR politically?
A
Gorbachev was willing to abandon SDI as an obstacle in nuclear agreements
-Had to justify cordial relations with USA even though it appeared to be building an anti-Soviet weapons system
