Missile Shield Support Wanes

Analysis By Gary Langer, ABCNEWS.com

May 2 A narrow majority of Americans finds the downside of a $60 billion missile defense system more persuasive than the potential benefits, mirroring initial public opinion on the more extensive Star Wars proposal of the mid-1980s.

Forty-four percent say todays planned system would be worth its cost to protect the United States from a limited nuclear attack. But 53 percent side with opponents who say the plan wouldnt work, would cost too much and could initiate a new arms race.

Views on the Strategic Defense Initiative were almost identical in July 1985. But support for SDI grew to 55 percent in the next few months, as then-President Reagan promoted the idea in advance of his December 1985 summit with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev.

The Congressional Budget Office last week estimated a $60 billion cost for the system, now designed to protect the country from a limited rather than an all-out nuclear attack. President Clinton is to decide this summer whether to pursue the plan, which would require amending the 1972 Antiballistic Missile Treaty. Clinton meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the subject in June.

Separately, the five largest nuclear powers, the United States, Russia, France, Britain and China, issued a joint pledge Monday stating their "unequivocal commitment" to eliminate nuclear weapons. They didnt give details or a timetable.

Groups

Theres a sizable gender gap in views on a missile defense system. Women, who tend to be less supportive of military programs, oppose the notion by 58 percent-38 percent. Men narrowly support it, by 52 percent-47 percent.

There are political differences, as well. Republicans support a missile defense system by 60 percent-37 percent, while Democrats oppose it by 56 percent-41 percent. On this issue independents side with Democrats, opposing the system by 59 percent-38 percent.

Finally, older Americans, those 65 and older, are more apt to support a missile defense system 55 percent are in favor, compared to 42 percent of younger adults. Older Americans may have clearer personal awareness of the devastation caused by nuclear weapons, given the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945.

Methodology

This ABCNEWS.com survey was conducted by telephone April 26-30, 2000, among a random national sample of 1,004 adults. The results have a three-point error margin. Fieldwork by ICR- International Communications Research of Media, Pa. 

Gary Langer is the head of ABCNEWS polling unit