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Anti-Ballistic Missile treaty (A. B. M. ) which was agreed in 1972 between U. S. A.
and U. S. S. R.
was the most renouncing event during the Cold War period. The purpose of this treaty was to slow down the nuclear arming race and it forbade national defense systems. However United States recently announced its plan for National Missile Defense system (N. M. D. ) that they think will be a sufficient solution against their enemies. On the other hand, earlier responses from other countries, China and Russia at first, are not very optimistic.
Firstly, national defense and secondly an acceleration to American economy are the main purposes of National Missile Defense. Bush claims that A. B. M. treaty is a handicap for United States self-defense, and this project will prevent missile attacks from countries such as North Korea, Iran, Iraq and of course China that are rebellious to United States (Schweid, 2000).
In fact, the reason for the insistence in this high-tech project is isolationism of U. S. , a dream of New World which is protected and abstracted from other countries. Acceleration to slowing American economy is the other expectation by this project. Technological firms like Boeing, Lockheed-Martin and defense contractors will be the means for economic growth. For instance, basis of Silicon Valley was found by Ronald Reagan's Star Wars project.
After about ten years and incredible costs, the process briefly will be about detecting and destroying incoming missiles. Satellites and early warning radars are requirements for detecting missile launches and incoming missiles. Command and control centers, guidance for interceptor missiles, interceptor silos, and of course interceptor missiles are requirements for the destruction of incoming enemy missile. For optimists it will take 3 - 4 years, but Bush argues that system must cover not only U. S. but also allies, and U.
S. forces placed in overseas countries. This means, required time might be over 10 years to spread on the world. Moreover expected cost range between 30 - 200 billion dollars in respect of the extension of the project. There are many serious effects of N. M.
D. that must be thought about carefully. The most ambitious pitfall is a new nuclear arms race reminding the Cold War period in Pacific Domain. China and Russia consider N. M. D.
as an offensive system rather than defensive one, that ensure U. S. the protection from missile attacks and advantage of first-strike (Greenpeace, media briefing). Therefore Russia, China and other countries will try to expand and modernize their nuclear arsenals to keep up with U. S... Chinas projects will set domino effect, and India, which considers China as a threat will want to have similar nuclear missiles.
The effect will continue with Pakistan and others. Today one third of 36000 nuclear weapons are ready to kill anytime, and N. M. D. will certainly close the door of reducing nuclear weapons. On the other hand, it is possible for missile defense not to work.
The system must distinguish between real warheads and smart decoys that will be developed to fool and defeat investors. Two of the first three test of Star Wars project failed, and it might be the same for N. M. D. , which has been likened to attempt to hit a bullet with a bullet.
To sum up, more than project, its effects must be studied well. The peace is vulnerable already, and no more risk is needed. The solution does not lie in the vain hope the United States might one day knock incoming nuclear missiles out of the sky. Instead U.
S. government must demonstrate leadership in the international nuclear disarmament process because the elimination of all nuclear weapons is the only truly reliable defense against the threat of mass destruction. (Greenpeace, media briefing) Reference: A Nuclear Arms Race Greenpeace, media briefing web Star Wars Will Destroy Chances for The Elimination of Nuclear Weapons Greenpeace, media bring web Schweid, B. Bush Commits U. S. To Missile Defence AP 2 May 2001
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Research essay sample on Analysis Of The National Missle Defense System
