Ballistic Missile Defense: A History and Reevaluation of Missile Defense in the United States

Attempts by the United States to develop and deploy ballistic missile defense are nothing new. Under the context of Mutually Assured Destruction and the Cold War, a "limited” missile defense was proposed. Given technological and political shortfalls, the deployment of a "limited” missile defense was delayed until President Bush withdrew from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty in 2002. This action set the stage for the deployment of a national missile shield. Current developments however are putting this shield to the test. President Obama has outlined a new proposal for missile defense to respond to new and changing threats, but political and technological problems remain. While President Obama's plan is ambitious, many of his objectives are seemingly political, and the failure of an Obama system could be used as cover for a scaling back of ballistic missile defense. What is needed is a new plan, that will make Europe take a larger role, offer better protection of the United States mainland, and accomplish these goals with a reasonable cost.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science in Defense and Strategic Studies

Level thesis:degree_level

Masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Defense and Strategic Studies

Year

2009

Author dc:creator

• Flanagan, Robert

Contributors dc:contributor

• Ilan Berman

• missile
• ballistic
• defense
• SDI
• midcourse
• terminal
• boost
• Defense and Security Studies

Statement dc:rights

• © Robert Flanagan

Repository record dc:identifier

https://bearworks.missouristate.edu/theses/1450

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:bearworks.missouristate.edu:theses-2451