Why There is No Arms Control

In 1972, the United States and the Soviet Union implemented agreements limiting antiballistic missile defense and intercontinental ballistic missiles. That year, the U.S. had roughly 5,700 strategic nuclear warheads, 1,054 ICBMs, 656 SLCMs, and 463 strategic bombers. The Soviet Union had 2,160 strategic warheads, 1,527 ICBMs, 497 SLBMs, and 140 strategic bombers.

Now, 12 years later, arms control talks have come, gone, and come again; agreements have been signed, and the United States has not yet ratified a single new arms-control agreement. The arsenals, however, have changed. By the end of 1984, the U.S. had 9,000 strategic nuclear warheads, 1,045 ICBMs, 568 SLCMs, and 328 strategic bombers. New U.S. strategic weapons plans inc...