IMPACT: NMD IS NEEDED TO PROTECT AGAINST ACCIDENTAL NUCLEAR LAUNCHES

NATIONAL MISSILE DEFENSE CAN DEFEND US AGAINST ACCIDENTAL RUSSIAN LAUNCHES

Lawrence Freedman is professor of war studies at King's College London, The Independent (London) August 22, 1999, SECTION: COMMENT; Pg. 24 HEADLINE: WHY AMERICA SAYS IT NOW NEEDS 'SON OF STAR WARS';  THE WEST NO LONGER REQUIRES A NUCLEAR CAPABILITY, BUT IT FEARS THAT OTHERS STILL DO. // lnu-acs

Current proposals are more modest, geared to defending against rogue states armed with only a few missiles, or else an accidental launch by Russia - a real concern, as its weapons are poorly maintained by underpaid personnel with obsolete and unreliable command and control systems.

WE NEED MISSILE DEFENSE TO GUARD AGAINST AN ACCIDNETAL LAUNCH FROM RUSSIA OR CHINA

The Columbus Dispatch, October 11, 1999, SECTION: EDITORIAL & COMMENT, Pg. 10A, HEADLINE: ON TARGET TESTS PUT ANTI-MISSILE SHIELD A STEP CLOSER // ln-10-29-99-acs

One concern is an accidental launch from China or Russia. The latter is of particular concern because its nuclear arsenal and early-warning system are aging and error- prone.

NATIONAL MISSILE DEFENSE IS OF CRITICAL IMPORTANCE IN COMBATING ACCIDENTAL NUCLEAR LAUNCHES

JEROME SLATER is a professor of political science at Univ Buffalo, .The Buffalo News

May 19, 1999, SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE, Pg. 2B HEADLINE: U.S. MUST STRIVE TO DEVELOP SOUND NUCLEAR-DEFENSE SYSTEM // lnu-acs

In any case, the nuclear threat is not limited to cases in which a government or terrorist group deliberately decides to attack the United States. A far more likely disaster is an accidental missile launch, or an intentional but unauthorized one by a single crazed missile commander. In that case, a missile defense might prevent the destruction of New York or Washington, and no government would have the motivation to overcome or circumvent the defenses and precipitate mutual national annihilation.