Iraq’s Missile Program Shows Urgent Need For SDI

Yesterday, Iraq announced that it had successfully launched a missile capable of lofting a satellite into space. Such a missile would also have the inherent capability of delivering nuclear, chemical or biological weapons virtually anywhere in the world.

While there is uncertainty in official circles about the accuracy of the Iraqi announcement, Iraq is known to have vigorous programs underway in each of these areas. This is the more worrisome insofar as it has demonstrated a willingness to engage in aggression and genocide and to support acts of terrorism. For these reasons, the Center for Security Policy believes this Iraqi development has dangerous implications for the United States and its allies.

Frank J. Gaffney, Jr., the Center’s director, said today, "Iraq is among the first of a number of nations now acquiring ballistic missile technology. It is simply a matter of time before a host of countries are in a position to attack the United States with devastating effect."

Gaffney added, "While various diplomatic efforts are underway to try to slow the hemorrhage of Western, Soviet and Chinese technology to such countries, the Iraqi test indicates that such a regime for controlling missile proliferation is clearly an inadequate safeguard for U.S. security. The Center believes it is incumbent upon the Bush Administration promptly to act on two fronts:

"First, it is time to reconsider the wisdom of continued adherence to the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, an arms control agreement that would permanently deny the United States the ability to protect itself against ballistic missile attack by deploying effective defenses. Even at the time this agreement was negotiated, the assumptions it was predicated upon were dubious. Today, in a world where many countries — not just the USSR — may wish to threaten the United States, the Treaty is simply incompatible with U.S. security interests.

"Second, next week, on the 11th of December, the Defense Acquisition Board (DAB) is expected to consider programmatic choices that will determine whether the United States will have an option to take advantage of recent technical progress and deploy such defenses in the foreseeable future. If this country’s current, complete vulnerability to ballistic missile attack from any quarter is to be eliminated, the DAB must allocate whatever resources are provided the SDI program in such a way as to emphasize and accelerate the pursuit of near-term space- and ground-based defensive systems."