• Background: Program started during WW2, proliferated during Cold War, became law in 1999, plans for shield commenced in 2001
• Debate: Russia vs US and allies
• Country Comparison: Japan, Israel, Australia, Canada
• Recent Developments: US wins NATO backing for east Europe shield despite Russia\'s objection

Background

• The ballistic missile-defence system is designed to give the U.S. the power to protect itself and its allies from incoming intercontinental ballistic missiles. The "shield" uses space-based sensors to detect an object headed for protected regions. The information is sent to a ground-based system that identifies the object and it's origin (ground, air, or sea). An intercepting missile is lunched, which is guided by sensors tracking the incoming missile. The process if repeated if the first missile fails. Debris from the collision is expected to burn up as it enters the Earth's atmosphere (Source: Missile Defense Agency).
• The U.S. missile defense program was born 1946 to counter the Nazi missile program of World War II that included plans for the world's first intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). The program grew rapidly during the height of the Cold War arms race. The US and Soviet Union each acquired thousands of missiles and nuclear warheads under the doctrine of mutually assured destruction. President Ronald Reagan developed a ground and space based plan named "Star Wars" to shield the US from incoming ballistic missiles. The Star Wars plan was costly and complicated and thus, never materialized (Source: Missile Defense Agency).
• Although the The National Missile Defence Act of 1999 was signed by President Bill Clinton, the administration did not provide adequate funding for the program to commence. The bill states: "It is the policy of the United States to deploy as soon as is technologically possible an effective National Missile Defence system capable of defending the territory of the United States against limited ballistic missile attack (whether accidental, unauthorized, or deliberate) with funding subject to the annual authorization of appropriations and the annual appropriation of funds for National Missile Defense." (Source: Library of Congress)
• President George W. Bush made missile defense a top priority following the Sept 11 2001 attacks on New York City. Bush withdrew the US from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, a treaty between the US and the Soviet Union (now Russia) that ended the Cold War arms race. The Bush Administration proposed a multi-national defence system that would protect all US territories and other participating countries. It considers Iran and North Korea to be the biggest threats to Western security.
• Russian has vehemently opposed the missile defense plan, involving missiles in Poland and the Czech Republic. The Kremlin contends the program threatens to its own nuclear deterrent and could be used to spy on Russia. President Bush has said that a missile defense system is needed in Europe, especially Eastern Europe, to protect U.S. allies from Iran (Source: BBC News). The plan includes 10 antimissile interceptors in Poland and a radar-tracking facility in the Czech Republic. 2012 is the projected date of completion.

Debate

• Russia - The eastern European portion of the missile defense shield threatens Russian defense.

• US, NATO, and allies - Weapons programs in Iran and North Korea threaten the US, Europe, and Israel. A shield is immediately needed to protect Western states.

Country Comparison

• Japan and Israel
  

  Each have developed their own joint missile defence programs with the US (Source: US State Department).

• Australia
  

  Australia has been supportive of ballistic missile defense shield and joined alliance in 2003 (Source: NY Times).

• Canada
  

  Canada shares US and NATO concerns about the proliferation of missiles and weapons of mass destruction. Canada has not yet opted in to the US led missile defense program. Its preferred approach is to engage diplomatically with potential ballistic missile proliferators; promote multilateral arms control mechanisms; and examine the employment of defensive capabilities (Source: Canadian Department of National Defense).

Recent Developments

• Missile defense shield tests started in 2000. The first test failed and was followed by several other failures in 2002, 2004, 2005 (Source: 1, 2, 3).
• On 24 Oct 2007, Bush made the case that Iran's development of ballistic missiles could strike Israel and Turkey, and said Tehran is also developing missiles that could strike NATO countries (Source: The Washington Post).
• On 03 April 2008, NATO backed the eastern Europe missile defense shield. Albania and Croatia were asked to join NATO. Invitations to Georgia, Ukraine, and Macedonia were postponed due to conflicts within the NATO alliance. France and Germany have protested the plan amid concerns from Russia (Source: BBC News).

Additional Information