Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty

The US has formally announced that it will no longer be a party to the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty it signed with the former Soviet Union in the 1970's. The treaty banned the development of defensive systems capable of shooting down an incoming intercontinental ballistic missile.

This treaty was intended to assure the US and the Soviet Union that they needn't build more ICBMs to counter a defensive system. Since that time, the Soviet Union has split with only Russia still in control of the major ICBM arsenal and neither the US or Russia consider the other a threatening enemy. The need for defense is now against countries such as North Korea and perhaps Iraq in the next 5 to 10 years. There is an outside chance terrorist may get control of ICBMs and threaten the US. Russia and some European countries have complained about the US dropping the ABM treaty claiming it will re-ignite an arms race.

I would suggest that the US work with Russia and the European Union in the development of a limited ABM system and share the developed system with all countries that are party to the nuclear anti-proliferation treaty and have not violated that treaty. This would assure a reasonable level of safety for those countries that have not added to the proliferation of nuclear weapons and delivery systems. And yes, this means that China would not be eligible to receive this defensive system.

12/13/01 ( 290 )
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