Critics of “Star Wars” argued that an effective nuclear defense shield would have increased the dangers of nuclear war due to the dangerous implications it could have on global security. The theory behind a nuclear defense shield is that it would protect against incoming warheads, allowing nations to feel safe from missile attacks and thus decreasing their inhibitions in terms of threatening or attacking other nations. Additionally, some critics also feared that if one nation had this shield, other nations might want to build similar technology for protection and deterrence purposes, further heightening tensions between countries.