Visit our website: HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK --------------------------------------------- http://therussianissues.com/print/997174449.html The Russian Issues.com August 7, 2001 Star Wars Becoming a Reality Igor Korotchenko The new U.S. Administration is determined to strengthen America's leading geopolitical and military position. One has the impression that the efforts Washington is making are paving the way for a return of the Monroe doctrine and aim to achieve the invulnerability of the continental United States at any cost. George Bush's statements to the effect that it is necessary to install an unprecedented defense system ring the same bell. The creation of a several echelons deep NMD system that makes broad use of weapons built upon new physical principles is one of the new strategy's principal components. The focus is on the costly programs developing various types of laser weapons. These weapons are regarded as the main expedient in intercepting missiles at the second stage in the NMD scheme implementation. The Space Based Laser (SBL) system has the mission of destroying incoming ballistic missiles in a limited missile attack at the territory of the United States or its allies. It also has a duty to protect U.S. satellites in orbit and monitor the terrestrial space and airspace. At the present stage, the program would cost an estimated $2.5-3 billion. No one in Russia has yet properly evaluated the danger of imbalances that may develop if the United States creates echelon of airspace attack weapons. Meanwhile, the prospective U.S. ABM laser force will have the potential for intercepting from 500 to700 incoming ICBMs, which roughly equals the capability the Russian Strategic Nuclear Forces have for a retaliatory strike. If one counts in the prospects for the deployment of weapons in other NMD echelons, it will be clear that the combined capabilities of a U.S. antimissile defense system may be adapted to the overall number of missiles and warheads Russia has left under the START-2 Treaty. Recently, the Pentagon has focused on the strategic role of their orbital satellite cluster, which is in charge of reconnaissance, monitoring, navigation and communications. It has declared repeatedly that it is necessary to guarantee protection of the U.S. space satellites. One may expect, therefore, that this mission will be as much of a priority for lasers in space as antimissile defense. Discussions of the U.S. NMD system missions repeatedly mentioned the function of interdicting ICBM launches by rogue states. Everyone is aware today how one ends up on the U.S. State Department's blacklist. Besides, Washington may have the temptation to restrict the activities of all brands of rivals, given that the use of outer space as a medium for telecommunications promises truly astronomical profits. Employment of ABL and SBL systems by only one country will provoke excessive tensions as the world community addresses any space-related disputes. It would initially rule out any equality of those participants who compete for exploring the near space. Countries, which the United States rates as rogues, will have to renounce independent space exploration. And perhaps this might apply to others as well. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Make international calls for as low as $.04/minute with Yahoo! Messenger http://phonecard.yahoo.com/ ------------------------------------------------- This Discussion List is the follow-up for the old stopnato @listbot.com that has been shut down ==^================================================================ EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.a9spWA Or send an email To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] This email was sent to: archive@jab.org T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
