IMPACT: NMD IS NEEDED TO ENHANCE USA SECURITY FROM WMD

THE NEED FOR PROTECTION FROM MISSILE ATTACKS WITH WMD IS CLEAR

John B. STIMPSON February 20, 2001 The Boston Herald SECTION: EDITORIAL; Pg. 021 HEADLINE: Op-Ed; Missile shield is everyone's biz //VT2002acsln

There is a new need to protect the United States from rogue nations that did not have a ballistic missile capability 10 years ago but do now. The United States must have a long-term strategy that is up to date with the realities of a new international environment that is neither strategically balanced nor easily defined. Missile defense satisfies that need.

WE NEED NMD TO COUNTER THE IMMINENT THREAT OF WMD MISSILE ATTACKS ON THE USA

The collapse of the Soviet Union and the proliferation of ballistic missiles throughout the world have changed the threat and make deploying an effective missile defense system an urgent necessity. China and Russia already possess long-range missiles that can reach U.S. territory, and some 20 Third World countries have or may be developing weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile delivery systems. For example, Iran, Iraq, and North Korea are stockpiling weapons. In 1998, North Korea launched a three-stage rocket over Japan, demonstrating that it could threaten U.S. territory with ballistic missiles in the very near future.

The most dangerous security threat to the United States is posed by long-range missiles that could reach American soil carrying nuclear, biological, or chemical warheads. Indeed, the National Intelligence Council concluded in 1999 that the threat is imminent:

WMD LEAKING FROM RUSSIA COULD EASILY END UP WITH TERROR GROUPS

John Mceachran April 16, 2001 The Herald (Glasgow) SECTION: Pg. 2 HEADLINE: Professor's nuclear warning //VT2002acsln

NUCLEAR and biological weapons leaking from the old Soviet war machine could end up in the hands of terror groups, a terrorism expert has warned.

Professor Paul Wilkinson told the Edinburgh International Science Festival that changes since the cold war had made it more likely terrorists would get access to weapons of mass destruction, and developed nations would have to face the possibility of being targeted by these nuclear bombs or chemical weapons.

Terror groups were no longer willing to settle for supplies of Kalashnikov rifles and Semtex explosives, according to Professor Wilkinson, of the centre for the study of terrorism and political violence at Central Lancashire University. He said the problems in Russia meant nuclear, chemical and biological secrets were now on sale to the highest bidder.

WAKE UP AMERICAN, THE THREAT OF A MISSILE LANDING IN YOUR BACK YARD IS REAL!

Lloyd Gish, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, October 16, 1999, SECTION: EDITORIAL, Pg. 32 HEADLINE: LETTERS TO THE EDITOR : DEFENSE SHIELD: THE FORCE IS GOOD // ln-10-29-99-acs

Wake up, America! The threat of a missile landing in your backyard is real! Call, write or e-mail your president and members of Congress and strongly encourage them to protect our children the best way we can, with an anti-missile defense system. I pray it is not too late.

IT IS IRRESPONSIBLE NOT TO PROTECT AMERICANS WITH NATIONAL MISSILE DEFENSE

Tampa Tribune, October 8, 1999, Pg. 12 HEADLINE: Reagan's "Star Wars' proves its worth // ln-acs

The United States may have won the Cold War, but the world remains a dangerous place. It would be recklessly irresponsible for this country not to provide Americans a defense system that, as President Reagan envisioned, is proving itself smashingly effective.

MISSILE DEFENSE IS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF A NEW NUCLEAR STRATEGY

The Times (London) January 13, 2001, Saturday HEADLINE: Pre-emptive strike //VT2002acsln

Defence against missile strikes from unpredictable, hostile or outlaw states is central to the task that Mr Bush has defined as "redefining how wars are fought and won, and therefore how peace is kept". Missile defence is as important to this generation of defence strategists as mutually assured destruction (MAD) was to the Cold War era.