Current Nuclear Weapons Issues, and Sid Drell's Contributions to Arms Control and Strategic Stability

1. The history of the M-X missile, of various bomber programs, and naval ship procurement confirms that one of the great threats to U.S. national security is the aggressive overselling and underpricing of weapon systems.
Beware envy of weapons we don't need, in contrast with countering adversary weapon systems by defense, deception, or a combination of electronic warfare and cyber attack, or by the use of alternative (asymmetric) systems.
2. At Sid's retirement from SLAC 20 years ago, I recounted some of his work in creating and perfecting satellite imagery that greatly improved our knowledge of denied territories. His work, both technical and programmatic, resulted in his being named one of the ten Founders of National Reconnaissance. A separate portion of his efforts was devoted to work on and to the leadership of the strategic military panel of the President's Science Advisory Committee --PSAC-- with its annual assessment of proposals for U.S. national missile defense.
He undertook public analysis of various proposals for land-basing of the 10-warhead M-X missile in Nevada or Utah, and lectured there, and worked within the JASON group for the US Department of Defense to propose a novel and highly unwelcome system for basing four encapsulated M-X missiles alongside each of a fleet of small non-nuclear submarine.
In the 1990s, Sid was key to readying the Defense Department and the nuclear weapons elements of the Department of Energy to support a total ban of nuclear explosion testing-- the CTBT-- and to put substance on the Science-based Stockpile Stewardship Program for maintaining U.S. nuclear weapons safe and reliable under the CTBT.
In recent decades Sid worked with George P. Shultz, Sam Nunn, Henry A. Kissinger, and William J. Perry toward massive reductions of nuclear weaponry, and with the goal of eliminating nuclear weapons.
Sid's energy and warm personality enhanced his effectiveness, making it a pleasure to work with him.