Why does the Shuttle have Solid Rocket Boosters?

[Leav]

you should read more about the design stage of the shuttle.

There was a big fight over the design. If I recall correctly almost no one at NASA wanted the SRBs, but they were required because the CIA or NSA or some other intelligence agency wanted the shuttle to be able to haul huge surveillance satellites into orbit.

This is mainly discussed in relation to the Challenger accident, because the SRB O-Rings failed.

I remember at least 2 Discovery shows talking about the original alternatives to the current shuttle design and how much the engineers were opposed to the final outcome.

-Leav