PEOPLE

The Southeast Missourian asked people if they thought the fate of the Star Wars program was due to the collapse of the Soviet communist system.

Dave Thompson: "The Soviet Union has shattered into smaller fragments, but I'm not sure at some point in time those fragments might not cause us additional trouble. I'm not sure if the Star Wars program would help prevent it but the elimination of it might be too soon."

Duneall Lane: "We shouldn't totally phase out the whole program. We can apply the good we've learned towards other weapon systems and eventually peace. But we must remember the country that once was the Soviet Union still has nuclear weapons too."

Dorothy Siebert: "I think the Star Wars program is the reason the Soviet Union finally broke down. But now the program should be phased out. It's hard to predict how Russia will be affected in the future, but let's hope everything goes peacefully and we will not need it."

Mel Dockins: "I don't think there is anything wrong with phasing out the Star Wars program at all, but I don't believe it is what caused the Soviet Union to break up. I think we have spent enough money on the program and it is time we spend it on something else."

John Thompson: "I like to see a strong defense and I am glad the United States is still defense minded. But under the circumstances, with the Soviet Union breaking up, I am glad to see it phased out. Hopefully we will no longer need the Star Wars program."

Phillip Ransburgh: "I think the SDI program helped bring the cold war to an end because I don't think the Soviets thought they had the economic power to match it, and I believe they feared it. But I don't think the entire program should be scrapped completely."