Missile Defense: Now More Than Ever
Peter Brookes of the Heritage Foundation has written an article for Townhall magazine titled, “Missile Defense: Now More Than Ever.” (PDF)
Brookes notes that a mere 10 years ago, there were just six nuclear weapons states. Now there are nine. A generation ago, nine countries had ballistic missiles. In 2009, almost 30 countries possess these weapons. The nuclear weapons increases may seem insignificant, but consider that developing and maintaining our own strong missile defense system “remains a controversial idea.” Unbelievable? You better believe it.
The missile defense system development that began under George Bush has yet to be completed. With a new president in the White House who so far has demonstrated lukewarm support for missile defense, the situation is precarious. Powerhouses like Russia and China have weapons, as well as rogue states like Iran and North Korea. The time to act is now.
An excerpt of the article:
“Among present proliferation problems, Iran may be the worst, due to its enmity toward the United States, sponsorship of terrorism, involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan and regional power ambitions.
“Tehran insists its burgeoning nuclear program is for peaceful power generation, designed to augment Iran’s significant oil and natural gas reserves. (Iran has the world’s third-largest oil and second-largest natural gas reserves.)
“But an avalanche of evidence tells a different story. Iran is involved in a nuclear weapons program that may become operational this year, according to a growing chorus of experts, including the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the United Nations’ supposed nuclear watchdog.”
The article includes sidebars on the history of missile defense (beginning in the 1940s) and how a ballistic missile defense system works. It’s well worth the read. Download the six-page article (PDF).
Tags: Ballistic Missile Defense System, China, Iran, North Korea, Peter Brookes, Russia