Pacific Lutheran university SCene - June 1984
19 The Al u m n i
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g ma 9S most g lorious ach-eve ent U, S, National Security Policy Does Not Include Arms Race Dr Fredrick Wikner
By Judy Davis
Dr Fredrick Wikner '52, one of the nation's authorities on nationa l secu rity technology and policy, says "there is no spiraling arms race. " "Contrary to popu lar opinion, the retaliat ory strength of the Un ited States has not continually escalated; in fact, the U S has, of its own volition , unilaterally decreased its stockpile of nuclear weapons since the early 1 960's" he said. "The total megatonnage of US nuclear weapons is at its lowest level i n 25 yea rs:' emphasized the security consultant to pri vate firms and government agencies To confirm his statements about the fallacy of the arms race, Dr. Wikner referred to a series of charts that major newspapers have been unwilling to publish - even though they are based on factual data . Dr. Wikner went on to pOint out that the Soviet Union, in contrast to the U nited States "has continued to increase its stockpile of nuclear wea pons and missiles. " The distingu ished, six-foot-five native of Hoquia m, Wash , discussed national security issues during a recent stopover in Tacoma while en route to an arms control seminar in California . During his 17-year career, Dr Wikner has been active in U S and Allied defense and secu rity affairs, both as a government official and as a consultant His positions have covered all aspects of defense matters , from nuclea r weapons to arms control, intelli gence, improved conventional forces and modern revolutionary warfare. He has held the hig hest civilian position in the Defense Nuclea r Agency While in Tacoma, Dr. Wikner made a nostalgic visit to PLU . He met briefly with PLU President Dr. Willia m 0 Rieke, a former classmate, and took a stroll past the science building where he spent many hours study ing physics and mathematics. He is a summa cu m laude graduate of PLU. Dr. Wikner met his wife, the former June Ma rie Nysteen '52, while attending PLU . She is now vice- president and secretary of their consulting firm in Bethesda, MD. The Wikners are parents of th ree grown ch ildren. Followi ng his graduation from PLU , Dr. Wikner attended the U niversity of California at Berkeley where he received a Ph.D in physics. He then began designing nuclear reactors "that are 99 percent safe. After all. we scientist didn't want to kill ourselvesl" Dr. Wikner beca me enmeshed in a career in national secu rity technology and defense in an effort to answer the question, "How can we deter war and keep from destroying ourselves?" Earlier in his ca reer, he served as scientific and tech nical adviser on General Creighton
W. Abrams' personal staff in Saigon in 1 9681 969. He established the Net and Technical Assessment offices for Secretary of Defense Melvin La ird and was their first director. Following these assig nments, he was the first di rector of the Department of Defense's SALT Task Force. Since leaving gove rnment, he has di rected major force modernization studies concerned with U S and Allied forces in Europe and Korea. Using this vast knowledge and experience, he has searched out ways applied science can be used as a deterrent to wa r and as a sou rce of retaliatory military power that is the u lti mate means for preventing wars. From his vantage point. Dr. Wikner con tends no reasonable world leader would start a nuclea r war. "Nonetheless, " he cautioned, "we must have enough retaliatory strength to protect our country from the 'downside risk' that a nuclear attack might occur . ' " " That a rgu ment becomes, 'What is reta I iat ory and how much is enough?' " Dr. Wikner says military strength is an important consideration in our relationship with the Soviet Union "because it is the ' principal basis for defi ning limited joint relationships, " "The Soviet Union understands military might It controls its people through a multitude of techniques all derived from the apparatus of state power, " Dr. Wikner pointed out. "In reality, there are irreconcilable differences between the Soviet U nion and the U nited States; the USSR is never going to ag ree to a social and political structure like our democracy Soviet citizens
will never be allowed the liberties and free institutions in their political structure that we have i n our democracy " He hastened to add that accepting these differences does not preclude sea rching out ways countries with different political view points can work together He cautioned, "We must not expect a rms agreements to serve as a substitute for our own unilateral action in our defense . We must take care of our own national security needs first while searching out a reas for ag reement that are in our mutual self interest " In h is view, a n area of mutual benefit was in the ba nning of n uclear tests in the atmos phere "The Russians don't like radioactive fa llout any more than we do," he declared. As a security consultant, Dr. Wikner travels about 180 days out of the yea r He visits all countries with which the United States has significant mutual secu rity interests, primari ly the NATO allia nce nations He is convinced the greatest issue of the 20th century is how to avoid another devastating world war Dr. Wi kner admonished Americans to "get rid of the hysteria surrou nding nuclear power and recog nize it as a public servant Our limited defensive forces are humanity's most glorious achievement - l iberty and free institutions. These exist in the Western world, and most of all, they are at their best i n the United States." H e concluded, "The U nited States is the most fabulous place i n the world - it's institutions are very precious and worth defending "
BAL LOT PACIFIC LUTHERAN UNIVERSITY ALUMNI ASSOCI ATION (OFFICIAL BALLOT T O B E RETURNED B Y AUGUST 1 5 , 1 984 (Two boxes are provided for each nominee - second box to be used ONLY if both husband and wife are PLU alums.)
FOUR TO BE ELECTED (Volefor one) B. Eldon Anderson '35 OIympia,WA
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(Vole for one)
Kristine Ringo Isaacson '78 Seattle, WA
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NOMINATIONS FOR AWARDS Distinguished Alumnus
(Vote for one)
Connye Idstrom Hager '63 BIUJn,8, MT
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(Votefor one)
Jeffrey Spere '72 Portland, OR
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FUTURE ALU� BOAR D
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CANDI DATES
Alum of the Year Heritage
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