"Star Wars" Resurrected

Ronald Reagan once envisioned a system of lasers and missiles known as "Star Wars" that would protect the homeland from the destruction of a Soviet nuclear attack. This year, Ronald Reagan's dream will finally be fulfilled.
We have come a long way since the days of "Star Wars" but the same basic principle of protecting the United States from nuclear missiles has not faded. Within the next couple weeks, President Bush is expected to announce the deployment of the National Missile Defense which was inspired by Reagan's "Star Wars". Although a prototype, the system will serve as a shield against possible missile attacks from rogue nations like North Korea and Iran.
The creation of the National Missile Defense System was one of President Bush's campaign promises in 2000 and has been a high priority during the administration even after the Sept. 11th attacks. However, serious concerns have been raised about the possible consequences that would stem from such a bold step. Alarming concerns such as cost overruns, the possibility of starting a world arms race or unnecessarily straining world relations are all concerns voiced by prominent world leaders and Americans at home.
It is without a doubt that the unveiling of the missile defense system will spark a political firestorm that will encompass many nations. However, it is up to the United States to determine whether deploying the National Missile Defense System is in its best strategic interest.

The following is a brief analysis of the benefits and consequences of deploying the National Missile Defense System.

Benefits:
1. Should the missile defense shield be reliable, it would be priceless in avoiding a nuclear strike upon American cities. According to the Missile Defense Agency, the defense system would be capable of shooting down up to a dozen intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM's) fired anywhere from the Middle East to East Asia. The interceptor missiles could also be mounted onto mobile units, thus expanding its capabilities to protect any corner of the world.
2. The missile defense system would also be helpful in avoiding a nuclear exchange. The missile defense system could make nuclear missile delivery obsolete and as a result rogue nations would find no value in spending the enormous amounts of money to build ICBM's.
3. A national missile defense would also serve as a valuable bargaining chip during tense negotiations with hostile nations, such as North Korea.
At the present moment, North Korea has the upperhand against the U.S because it has 1-2 ICBM's capable of reaching the West Coast. Consequently, North Korea can make demands knowing that the U.S must walk a tight rope for fear of Korean retaliation. If, the U.S had a missile defense shield, America could negotiate without having to submit to North Korean demands.

Consequences:
1. The National Missile Defense System runs the risk of being one of the most expensive failures in American history. Current budget estimates predict that the cost of maintaining a missile defense could exceed 100 billion dollars and the technology has proven to be faulty at best. Tests have shown that for every 10 dummy ICBM's launched, the interceptor missiles missed six times, even though the dummy ICBM's were broadcasting their exact position to the interceptor missiles.
2. A missile defense system could force other nations to develop more effective delivery missiles and drive them to create their own missile defense systems, thus starting a new global arms race. Signs of this have already surfaced. Russia recently announced that it would fit all its current missiles with multiple warheads to counter the low number of American interceptors. Russia also announced that it would build a new fleet of high-maneuverability missiles that would render any missile defense useless.
3. The deployment of a national missile defense could give the impression to the world that the U.S is positioning itself in an aggressive posture. This could result in heightened tensions and further erosion of world support for the U.S.

Conclusion:
The deployment of the National Missile Defense System is one of the most controversial actions by the U.S in modern history. Although it has the potential to make the world safer, it also has the potential to damage the stability of the entire world. It is a grave risk.

However, in the interests of United States national security, a missile defense is necessary to thrwart a strike from the numerous rogue states that wish harm to the U.S.
Deterrence worked during the Cold War against the Soviets, but today we face Islamic extremists that are willing to die themselves if they can harm the U.S.

It is because of the nature of America's enemies, that the U.S cannot be defenseless if an extremist Islamic regime threatens the United States with nuclear missiles.

That being said, although the ramifications of the National Missile Defense System are yet to be fully understood, it can be concluded that it will protect the United States from a potential doomsday scenario that is certain to happen someday in the not to distant future.