STAR WARS

noun Also written star wars (War and Weaponry) A colloquial nickname for the programme known officially as the Strategic Defense Initiative (abbreviation SDI), a military defence strategy proposed by US President Reagan in 1983, in which enemy weapons would be destroyed in space by lasers, antiballistic missiles, etc., launched or directed from orbiting military satellites. Etymology: A nickname based on the title of a popular science-fiction film released in 1977 and involving similar weapons; this film was, according to Halliwell's Film Guide, 'a phenomenon and one of the top grossers of all time', and it was therefore prominent in the public consciousness at the time when President Reagan made his proposals. History and Usage: The nickname Star Wars was applied to President Reagan's proposals for a high-technology space-based defence system almost as soon as he had made them in a nationwide television address in March 1983. At first it was used somewhat scathingly, pointing to the fact that the technology required for such a system had not yet been developed and expressing the view that it might prove as fictional as the film. Funding for the project was eventually voted through Congress by the middle of the decade, but there was enduring criticism of the whole idea, especially since it appeared to contravene existing antiballistic missile treaties and seemed more likely to contribute to the arms race than to end it (as President Reagan had supposed). The first question is one of commitment: whether Ronald Reagan understands what it takes to nudge a doubting, cash-short nation into serious consideration of his star wars defense concept. Time 4 Apr. 1983, p. 19 The only reason Star Wars happened is that the staff erred and allowed Edward Teller and a small group of conservatives from the Heritage Foundation who were behind it to get to Reagan. Life Fall 1989, p. 56