The Soviet doctrine called for development of their own ABM system and return to strategic parity with the US.

In response to the nuclear challenge to us and to the entire socialist world it was necessary to achieve strategic parity with the U.S.A. and this was accomplished.

When you ask for strategic parity, it means you are heading for a real peace where neither side can dictate to the other.

Mr. Assad nonetheless put renewed emphasis on his doctrine of "strategic parity" with Israel.

The Indians had proposed a "no first use" pact on nuclear weapons, though that would have put at a disadvantage the Pakistanis, who have achieved strategic parity.

For 10 years Hafez al-Assad in Syria has been talking about achieving strategic parity with Israel, but Saddam has done it with these chemical weapons.

Privately, Mr. Assad was told that Syria's hopes for achieving "strategic parity" with Israel were a chimera, best forgotten.

Was it necessary or useful to maintain strategic parity with the United States?

Without Soviet backing, Syria's quest for "strategic parity" with Israel is clearly unrealistic.

"Russia supports the idea of strategic parity," he said, "while the U.S. side is moving along a different path."