Anti-Nuclear Weapon Defense System a good idea?

Question

Yet another topic from my international relations class, but here it is. A US anti-nuclear weapon defense system; is it a good idea and should be put in place, or is it unnecessary and cause another cold war?

Just a response to a message saying "you don't deserve to live in this country"...
1) I'm trying to keep the question unbiased so that people are more likely to give answers and..
2)Personal attacks against someone asking a question does not exactly count as answer. The question was not should we lower the defense spending to zero, but rather should we build a new anti missile defense system. Please read the question.

3) On a new note to all: Please refrain from personal attacks, as I see no reason why there should be on this question.

Sorry for my wording..honestly my fault...

New anti-ballistic missile defense system Thank you ML for pointing this out.

Answer 1

Would you be happy if America, cut its Military and defense system down to zero ?
Why don't you just leave America. ?
You don't deserve to live in this country.

Answer 2

There is already plenty of development in ballistic missile defense, or BMD. One case is the Navy, which is testing the concept using Cruisers and Destroyers. They have done several tests already, most of them successes. Basically they fire a dummy ballistic missile into space, the ship's radars track it and then fire an SM-3 into space and the warhead collides with the missile, thereby destroying it in space. There are other programs out there as well, but this is the one I'm most familiar with. Here's a link to a video of a recent test
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMfJc9Pu7fM

Is it a good idea? Yeah. If we have the capability to protect ourselves from ballistic missile attacks, why not employ it. We are defending ourselves from attack, and can retaliate conventionally, without using our nuclear weapons. We can even use it to share with/defend others, say help Japan defend against a missile fired from North Korea.

Answer 3

hey everybody, guess what.....
NORTH KOREA HAS NUCLEAR WEAPONS AND IRAN IS ON THE VERGE OF GETTING THEM!!!!
If this defense system existed it would be a better thing to put our money into than a war that has become a peacekeeping occupation. We need to worry about more than just terrorists people, seriously. Read the news. I think it would be a good idea, too bad the funding for it is being diverted to Iraq.

Webned, do you have any idea how incredibly unrealistic 24 actually is?
(its still a good show, but don't worry about stuff like that happening)

Answer 4

If you are referring to the US BMD systems in Poland and the Czech Republic then it may be a good idea depending on your overall stance on US and European foreign policy.

Throughout US history, only three countries have seriously threatened the United States: Britain, which ultimately was forced into the role of ally; Mexico, which was occupied and half its territory annexed; and Russia/Soviet Union -- the only "foe" still remaining. The US does not normally defeat its enemies so much as crush them until either they switch sides or are incapable of posing more than a negligible threat.

This is what we want to do with our last remaining world "foe" is make them a neglible geopolitical player. The BMD will make Russia uncomfortable and force a change in their policies and increase rhetoric, making it easier for us to bolster support for our cause and diminish Russia's say.

This is just my 2 cents though...

Answer 5

There is no such thing as an "anti-nuclear weapon defense system". The missile defense system is a good idea, since it has multiple uses besides just missile defense.

Answer 6

The US does need this system---if it works as advertised. I don't think another cold war is coming, but a hot one. Better safer than sorry at this time in the world.

Answer 7

As things stand right now the system is outrageously expensive and is not even ready to deploy. Bush was pushing for early deployment even though it doesn't work yet for political reasons.

Answer 8

I think its a dumb idea, and a waste of money. Our greatest threat of nuclear attack is from terrorists who could get their hands on a bomb (Don't you watch 24?). Those guys won't need a delivery system, they'll just stick it in a trash can in Times Square.

Answer 9

I used to think it was abhorrent and stupid, but now that we've got this meteor heading right at us, this technology is looking very very important.

Answer 10

Yup. But I don't think it will help with terrorists.