Guides to Contemporary Issues #12

THE QUEST FOR MISSILE DEFENSES: 1994-2003

This volume surveys more than fifty years in search of a defense against ballistic missiles by the United States and, to a lesser extent, the Soviet Union/ Russia. This introduction to an extremely complex technological undertaking and a highly charged political topic provides a meaningful overview of the various challenges.

From the end of World War II, through Ronald Reagan’s dream of protecting all Americans from a massive Soviet ballistic missile attack to George W. Bush’s reduced goal of defending against a small number of ballistic missiles launched by a rogue state, thousands of scientists and technologists have labored to create an effective missile defense system. They have conducted extensive research and testing of antiballistic missiles systems for more than fifty years at the cost of well over 120 billion dollars. However, as of the end of 2003 the goal still remained elusive.

Wade Boese, Research Director for the Arms Control Association and Philip E. Coyle, III, Senor Advisor, Center for Defense Information, formerly Assistant Secretary of Defense and Director, Operational Test and Evaluation, reviewed the final drafts—their comments and suggestions were indispensable.

Brune, L. H. and Burns, R. D.  290 Pages
Price (HB) $34.95                                Price (PB) $ 17.95