At 09:57 AM 8/24/01 -0700 Christopher Gwyn wrote:
> however none of the tests that have been done so far have been very
>successful - lots of misses and (as far as i know) every one of the
>hits have involved a signal coming from the target. i'm pretty
>comfortable with maintaining the focus on getting an
>allowable-under-the-current-treaty system to consistently work before
>attempting approaches that aren't allowed under the current treaty.
Actually, this is an excellent argument (if true) for withdrawing from the
ABM Treaty.
Many people, especially missile defence skeptics, have suggested that the
United States should concentrate on developing a boost-phase defence
system. The technological hurdles to boost-phase defences are much lower,
since during the boost phase the missile is very hot from acceleration, and
is much larger - having not yet disposed of its boosters. Additionally,
boost-phase defences are unlikely to raise the ire of China and Russia
nearly as much, as the use of boost-phase defences will be much more
limited and transparent than other systems.
Unfortunately, by definition, boost-phase defences require the use of
mobile launchers - and the ABM Treaty prohibits all work and testing on
defences using mobile launchers.
Thus, if our attempts to develop an end-phase, fixed-base system are
proving too difficult with current technology, the only sensible thing is
to find ways to significantly alter the ABM Treaty. In contrast, your
approach of only tackling the hard solutions and avoiding the easy ones
hardly seems sensible.
>convince the Russians and others that there are advantages for them
>in negotiating a new treaty. (i expect that a long detailed
>discussion of a new treaty would be productive even if it happens
>that a 'missile defense shield' is never built.)
This is exactly what the Bush Administration has spent the past six months
doing.
JDG
__________________________________________________________
John D. Giorgis - [EMAIL PROTECTED] - ICQ #3527685
We are products of the same history, reaching from Jerusalem and
Athens to Warsaw and Washington. We share more than an alliance.
We share a civilization. - George W. Bush, Warsaw, 06/15/01
