Amajor goal of the progressive movement was to

The Progressive movement was a period of activism in the US that lasted from the 1890s until the 1920s. Its major goal was to combat the problems derived from the industrialization era, and the urbanization and the immigration processes. The institutions were full of corrupt politicians and public officers, and such practices started to be denounced and prosecuted too during the Progressive era (for example, muckrackers appeared, who were journalists that denounced corruption in important newspapers and magaines).

not to sure sdi, strategic defense initiative

i'd assume india mainly because of how isolated japan was.   plus it is a whole china away.