Missile defense?? Expensive Foreign Policy but quite likely necessary.
The world is dividing up into economic trading blocks. What provides the US an edge is their military technology, which no other nation can afford to match. Additionally, just as Europe subsidizes it's aerospace industry directly, the US does it through military expenditures. (If you doubt me, think about the origin of airliners, satellites, jet engines, computers... etc).
Thus, missile defense serves several purposes. It places other nations in a situation where they must continue to align themselves with the United States for their protection (we're even inviting the Russians to join us). This maintains US global leadership and undermines the Tri-polar economic blocs that are emerging.
Secondly, the technology involved in creating a functional missile defense will expand the US lead in technology, particularly computer processing speed and artificial intelligence necessary for the pattern recognition algorithms involved in finding, tracking, and intercepting multiple missiles.
Thirdly, missile defense will provide the US with the ULTIMATE insurance policy against a biological attack. It essentially sends the message that if you screw with us, we'll withdraw our missile shield, and in fact, could even launch a retaliatory strike with relative impunity for such a non-nuclear use of WMDs.. (certainly against any nation that harbored these terrorists).
Finally, (and this is just my opinion).. the entire world faces a serious potential threat from errant asteroids. Missile defense is the precursor to intercepting, diverting (or destroying) extraterrestrial bodies.
It's a profound, and controversial, step for Bush to advance. But considering the Chinese Generals enjoy commenting about how we won't sacrifice Los Angeles to defend Taiwan, it sounds like the appropriate action, imo.
It's certainly long overdue. M.A.D. only truly work between one or two large powers. When you have all sorts of smaller nations possessing the capability to threaten their neighbors, a missile defense system is certainly a nice asset to have so we don't have to obligate ourselves to massive retaliation against an attack against one of our allies.
And that will provide the US more flexibility, as well as incredible influence in countering these rogue nations.
Hawk |
