There is NO Alternative to Missile Defense

Kevin Roeten

Few understand how dangerous the world is. It’s getting difficult to differentiate between ‘rogue’ states, and unfriendly maligned states. But it is becoming all too clear which states could attempt to use nuclear blackmail, sell nuclear technology, or simply supply nuclear material to rogue/terrorist organizations.

In September, there was another successful US missile defense test. The test simulated an attack by a North Korean long distance Taepodong II missile. The Taepodong is a missile we could encounter very easily--especially since North Korea defiantly continues to test it. Strange---North Korea has just successfully tested a nuclear bomb underground.

When the US fired a dummy missile from Kodiak Island(Ak), it was destroyed 17 minutes later by a missile interceptor fired from Vandenburg AFB(Ca). But more importantly, the test directly indicated that an intercept in the height(most difficult) of a missile attack was achievable. This has been the 6th success of Ground Based Midcourse Defense since 1999. Knowing speeds of the two missiles(>15000 mph), one could claim that the US now has the technology to “fire a bullet, and hit another bullet”.

Implications too numerous to mention, are too obvious to pass over. With so many nuclear-capable nations—including North Korea—the threat of a nuclear blast anywhere has increased by tenfold. Major threats are those rogue nations and terrorist organizations that dream of acquiring nuclear capability. A few include Iran, Venezuela, and Syria. A few terrorist organizations include al-Qaeda, Ansar al-Islam, Hamas, Intifada, Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah, Jeemah Islamiyah, Front Pembela Islam, PLO, etc...

What if China fired on, or sold nuclear technology to a terrorist state, and attempted to ‘nuke’ Taiwan? A good possibility since China still considers Taiwan its territory, and is adamantly opposed to ‘GWD’. Existing agreements mean America would be directly involved. What if a terrorist group commandeered an ICBM from any one of the nuclear-capable countries, and sent it to Israel, South Korea, or the US? Most Islamic groups have publicly stated that they want Israel removed from the map. What if a rogue state such as North Korea allowed an ICBM to be sent under the guise of one of the terrorist states, because they felt threatened by recent sanctions? What about the risk of nuclear blackmail? If global missile defense(GMD) didn’t exist, you have no options.

Violation of the 1972 ABM treaty was put to rest when Putin(USSR no longer exists) acquiesced to its abandonment in 2001. Many argue that ‘GMD’ will force other countries into an arms race. But remember how the USSR could not compete with the “SDI” concept? The Kremlin has clearly indicated that it has no intention of keeping up with the joneses on missile defense. Opponents claim we shouldn’t ‘weaponize’ space, but they ignore the fact that space is already ‘weaponized’—any missile fired has to pass through space. No missile for defensive purposes will be nuclear tipped. Until the Clinton administration cancelled the Brilliant Pebbles program, a 4,000 satellite constellation that would fire projectiles at ballistic missiles showed major promise.

Other countries including Italy, Britain, India, Australia, Canada, Greenland, Denmark, Poland, and Israel are already developing missile defense systems that will integrate into American systems. In September 2002(Evans/ Bulletin of Atomic Scientists) statements by Russian deputy foreign and defense ministers revealed a willingness to cooperate with Washington on ‘GMD’. One realizes that the Kremlin is keen to promote and protect this potentially profit-making element of its defense sector. The US has already offered outright an ‘umbrella’ effect that a ‘GMD’ could have that would protect other countries.

If a foreign ICBM killed thousands in America(or an ally), it’s almost a guarantee that liberal media outlets will scream “What barbaric nation would retaliate?” Cable shows would be debating the destruction of cities 24/7. With so many rogue nations and terrorist states, determining a return address gives numerous options. Interesting that the clear solution is ‘GMD’. No deaths due to retaliation. Possibility of ‘world’ protection through ‘umbrellas’. Reduction of nuclear weapons and missiles. People saved. Money saved. Elimination of “Mutually Assured Destruction”.

“GMD” also includes an airborne Chemical Oxygen Iodine laser system capable of producing a megawatt-class beam effective(missile kill) to several hundred kilometers. Recent accomplishments have pushed this science fiction fantasy to ‘almost’ ready.

Much more work needs to be done on ‘GMD’. But considering the speed of successes, and the fact that any missile(s) could potentially be destroyed, enemies will realize an ICBM is unworkable. It’s likely if Democrats gain control, most work on ‘GMD’ will come to a screeching halt. Currently, one can control whether ‘nukes’ enter the nation by ‘container’, or plane. Before, we couldn’t control an incoming ICBM. Likely, we’re not told every capability of ‘GMD’. But rest assured, everyone is watching.

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As a Chemical Engineer, I love politics, and am an orthodox Catholic. I am a "Guest Columnist"('Asheville Citizen-Times'), a regular columnist(North Carolina Conservative), and a contributor to the book "Americans on Politics, Policy, and Pop Culture". Politics are usually covered with a skew from a Catholic perspective.

roetenks@charter.net