BTW, the basic presumption of your post is false. The development and deployment of balistic missiles is already accelerating.
PROLIFERATION CONTINUES AFTER PRESIDENT'S
DECISION TO DEFER MISSILE DEFENSE
by JACK SPENCER AND MICHAEL SCARDAVILLE
October 12, 2000
excerpts
Arms control advocates would have Americans believe that deploying a missile defense "shield" would unleash a worldwide arms race, but the facts prove otherwise: America has deployed no defense against missile attack (well maybe --commentary added) , and the proliferation of ballistic missiles and missile technology--already a matter of grave concern--is accelerating. An eruption of proliferation activity followed President Bill Clinton's announcement on September 2 that he would defer the decision to deploy a national missile defense system to the next Administration. Rather than give hostile nations a reason not to arm themselves, America's lack of missile defense has encouraged them to develop their missile capability. Recent proliferation activity underscores the urgent need for America to pursue global missile defense now.
Yet countries with a history of antagonistic behavior towards the United States continue to develop long-range ballistic missiles, which have no other purpose than to kill thousands of people. For example:
Libya has received its first consignment of North Korean Nodong Missiles. On September 24, London's Daily Telegraph reported that Libya had acquired the first shipment of its order of 50 North Korean Nodong medium-range ballistic missiles and seven launchers.
Iran has tested a new version of its infamous Shahab. On September 21, Iran tested a new version of the 800-mile-range Shahab ballistic missile called the Shahab-3D.
Syria has tested the Scud-D. Although Syria already has Scud missiles capable of hitting Israel, the new model acquired from North Korea will allow it to attack all of Israel from bases deep within its own territory.
India and Pakistan plan to test new missiles. Both India and Pakistan have announced their intentions to test new intermediate range ballistic missiles in the near future.
Russia has tested two versions of its advanced Topol-M. Russia continues to develop more advanced ICBMs and recently tested both the mobile and silo-based versions of the 6,200-mile-range Topol-M.
As these developments show, the threat from ballistic missiles to the United States, U.S. troops, and America's friends and allies is clear and growing. The intensified proliferation since the President's deferral decision underscores the folly of this Administration's approach to the threat. As long as the United States refuses to commit to the deployment of an effective missile defense system, dangerous ballistic missiles will continue to put Americans at risk.
Full article
heritage.org |
