Commentary and Analysis

MISSILE DEFENSE IS ESSENTIAL IN AN UNCERTAIN WORLD 

Defense News - June 11, 2018

The world has watched with bated breath as developments in relations with North Korea and Iran have emerged at a breakneck pace. The decisions made in recent weeks with regard to those two nations will likely have profound consequences as Washington attempts to mitigate the threat posed by their respective ballistic missile programs. While the path toward a solution may not be straightforward, diplomacy is a critical avenue for addressing these issues. Equally important, however, is maintaining strong support for a robust missile defense system capable of defending the nation to provide assurance for a well-made deal, or ensurance should diplomacy fail.

REAGAN’S MISSILE DEFENSE WISDOM EXTENDS TO TODAY’S GMD CAPABILITY 

Defense News - April 25, 2017

GMD’s setbacks have indeed provided plenty of fodder for opponents of the system, but recent successes have provided much more confidence in the system’s future. Testifying before Congress earlier this year, Gen. Lori Robinson emphatically stated that she was “100 percent confident” in her ability to defend against North Korean strikes thanks to GMD. Breakthroughs in technology and capacity will only further enhance confidence in the system. Although fidelity toward sound homeland missile defense policy has been inconsistent over the past several decades, the support the current administration has shown GMD could finally help to deliver on Reagan’s vision for a robust missile defense.

HOMELAND MISSILE DEFENSE: A BRIEF HISTORY 

RealClearDefense - September 8, 2017

Over the past three decades, the path toward a truly robust homeland missile defense system has been precarious. Political support over five presidential administrations wavered, while historical funding for the Missile Defense Agency averaged less than 2% of the overall defense budget. As Washington considers its options for addressing a threat which has evolved more rapidly than expected, it should carefully consider lessons learned from decades of less than adequate support for homeland missile defense. The Trump administration must avoid the mistake of his predecessors and fully commit to investment in expanded missile defense capabilities.

THE STANDARD FOR MISSILE DEFENSE COOPERATION 

RealClearDefense - February 7, 2017

SM-3 Block IIA is being developed cooperatively by the United States and Japan to defeat ballistic missiles up to the intermediate-range and features several upgrades that improve upon previous variants. This test not only demonstrates a significant increase in U.S. missile defense capability but an outstanding example of cooperation with a critical ally. The SM-3 Block IIA project represents the best case study of equal funding and engineering on a missile defense system that will benefit both the United States and Japan.

THANKS, OBAMA: TRACKING THE PRESIDENT’S MISSILE DEFENSE EMBRACE 

RealClearDefense - January 27, 2017

Despite his initial apprehension, President Obama leaves behind a significant missile defense legacy, having spurred the development and deployment of missile defense systems in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East during his presidency. Obama’s embrace of missile defense as a component of foreign policy has led to bipartisan support of an issue that had largely been championed by the Republican Party for decades. This paradigm reversal can likely be attributed to the President’s confidence in today’s missile defense capabilities as a tool to reassure and defend allies and the American homeland from an increasing ballistic missile threat.

DENMARK: ONBOARD WITH NATO MISSILE DEFENSE? 

RealClearDefense - December 05, 2016

The success of NATO’s future missile defense efforts requires additional countries to follow Denmark’s outstanding example of leadership and fortitude on this effort. Additional NATO members must consider volunteering new capabilities to better defend Europe against an increasingly prolific missile threat.