Missile Defense in Europe- Who Decides
Abstract
The pending Obama Administration policy on missile defense is the quintessential driver for missile defense in Europe. The current world events serve to confirm the growing threat to the security of the homeland and American allies. The Ballistic Missile Defense System ? European Component serves to provide the United States homeland defense against a ballistic missile launched from Iran or another rogue state. Despite a myriad of strategic factors and considerations that constitute obstacles to employing the U.S. system in Europe, the deciding factor is ultimately the political decision by the President of the United States. Protecting the U.S. homeland and America's North Atlantic Treaty Organization allies against a ballistic missile attack is a fundamental vital interest of the United States, and deployment of missile defense elements to Europe therefore serves to further U.S. strategic interests. The President must agree to move forward with missile defense writ large, and more specifically with missile defense in Europe while working to minimize the domestic and transatlantic political distracters to its implementation.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 2009
- Accession Number
- ADA494902
Entities
People
- Timothy S. Sughrue
Organizations
- United States Army War College