A missile shield scenario to consider, based on a premise in the novel Warday
by James Kunetka and Whitley Streiber, but updated to now:
Years of scientific research and trillions of dollars enable the US to design
a 100% effective missile shield. The US prepares to begin deployment.
At which time China threatens a full nuclear strike on the US if _any_
components are deployed.
Chinese leaders reason that:
1. Despite whatever its leaders say, the US is not going to _give away_ this
technology ... because that's just stupid.
2. Even if the US hands over the design specs, there's no way China can match
the US industrial output in erecting its own missile shield.
3. As soon as the US has a missile shield and China, inevitably, does not,
the US can either destroy China anyway or force China to bend to its will.
Every time. In which case, it doesn't matter whether China (or the world)
exists or not anymore -- if you're a government or military hardliner.
I'm not proposing that this is what will happen, just throwing it out as
conjecture.
Patrick Sweeney
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
