by Robert G. Gard, John Isaacs, Kingston Reif, and Travis Sharp September 17, 2009 In response to the Pentagon’s announcement today that it intends to modify plans for the U.S. missile defense system in Europe, experts at the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation concluded that the decision is technically and politically wise. The Obama administration intends to […]
2009-2010 College Debate Topic on Nuclear Weapons: A Guide to Background Materials, Publications, &Organizations
by Travis Sharp and Kingston Reif Updated December 3, 2009 DEBATE TOPIC Resolved: The United States Federal Government should substantially reduce the size of its nuclear weapons arsenal, and/or substantially reduce and restrict the role and/or missions of its nuclear weapons arsenal. BACKGROUND MATERIALS BY TOPIC 1. Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) START Resource Center (Center […]
Time To Rethink Missile Defense
By Lt. Gen. Robert Gard and Kingston Reif Published in Defense News on October 20, 2008 Despite the Bush administration’s investment of an estimated $60 billion since 2001, U.S. national missile defense continues to be an unnecessary and counterproductive enterprise. Testing objectives consistently are not met, cost overruns and scheduling delays are rampant, and relations […]
Russia Looms over U.S.-Poland Missile Defense Agreement
by Kingston Reif After more than 18 months of hesitation, the United States and Poland on August 20 suddenly signed an agreement to place American missile defense interceptors on Polish territory. According to the Associated Press, parliamentary and presidential approval also appears likely, though no date has been given for when this might occur. AFTER […]
Missile Defense in Europe Falls to Next Administration
by Kingston Reif INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND Since withdrawing the United States from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty in 2002, the Bush administration has moved to create a missile defense system to defend against long-range ballistic missile threats from rogue states. In 2004, the United States began deploying interceptors in Alaska and California to defend against North […]