There is no reason to panic about America s proposed anti missile defense system.

Mismanaging Missile Defense

An anti missile defense system in Europe is a European, not a bilateral, issue.

We need a missile defense system that includes not just all NATO countries, but Russia, too.

One of Russia s main concerns is America s efforts to build up its ballistic missile defense system (BMDS).

Getting to Yes on Missile Defense

The Promise of Euro Atlantic Missile Defense

The United States plans to establish part of its global missile defense system in the Czech Republic and Poland.

American sources described the drill as the most complete air missile defense system we ve ever done anywhere in the world.

developing cooperative missile defense and early warning systems

Missile defense has become another bone of contention.

And missile defense is a concrete way to do that.

Europe s weakness becomes even more obvious given that it is not at all clear whether the American missile defense system will ever work.

But with the new US approach to missile defense, there are now much better opportunities for an effective NATO wide system that would enhance the territorial defense of our populations and nations.

It would also have important implications for the Russian defense industry, notably air defense and missile production.

Missile defense has suddenly emerged as a divisive issue in Europe.

Only a few days ago, Israel s Iron Dome missile defense system intercepted a rocket fired from Sinai that was aimed at the port of Eilat.

The Polish government has agreed to host elements of the modified European Missile Defense System on Polish territory in the second half of the decade.

NATO allies have been looking at various missile defense options for some time.

For these reasons, the time has come to move forward on missile defense.

Meanwhile, the Obama administration continues to pursue its plans for European missile defense.

The United States wants to establish an anti missile defense system that is supposed to protect America and parts of Europe against missiles from the Middle East.

If that happens, we can move forward to create a missile defense system that not only defends the Euro Atlantic community, but that also brings it together.

Obama also pushed the reset button with Russia, and suggested that he might freeze Bush s plan to deploy a missile defense system in the Czech Republic and Poland.

Moreover, reducing nuclear weapons to a minimum might theoretically enhance the usefulness of missile defense systems and their destabilizing role. And even non strategic missile defense systems, the deployment of which might be useful, will be questioned.

Its annual exports to Turkey total 23 billion, and now include military supplies, such as a missile defense system that is not compatible with those of Turkey s NATO allies.

Today, India and Japan cooperate on missile defense in partnership with Israel and the US.

Militarily, Japan revised its law on the Self Defense Forces to establish procedures for ballistic missile defense, with a strong focus on North Korea.

But it is time to look at missile defense as another opportunity to bring us together.

But Russia also must decide to view missile defense as an opportunity, rather than a threat.

Credibility is also enhanced by joint projects such as the development of regional ballistic missile defense.

In addition, it felt aggrieved by plans for further expansion of NATO, a proposed ballistic missile defense system in Eastern Europe, and Western recognition of Kosovo s secession from Russia s ally, Serbia.

And even non strategic missile defense systems, the deployment of which might be useful, will be questioned.

And now, with the US announcement that it will build the anti missile defense system on a bilateral basis with Poland and the Czech Republic, there is also a hawk circling overhead.

Confronted with the spread of missile technology, and unpredictable regimes and leaders, we owe it to our populations to complement our deterrence capabilities with an effective missile defense capability.

Unlike the Iraq operation, the planned missile defense deployment will almost certainly require approval by the Polish parliament.

For example, there is talk of installing anti missile defense systems in Poland in proximity to the Russian border, supposedly to prevent terrorist missile strikes, which by definition cannot reach Poland.

We are not quite there, but we are getting there. Missile defense can be part of that positive trend.

Their regional environment has become much more unstable and unpredictable. Only a few days ago, Israel s Iron Dome missile defense system intercepted a rocket fired from Sinai that was aimed at the port of Eilat.

There is no reason to panic about America s proposed anti missile defense system. Nor can the political climate, old differences, and the by no means new power rivalry between Russia and the US justify pessimism.

This allowed skeptics and opponents of missile defense to gain the upper hand in the internal debates in both countries.

Moreover, reducing nuclear weapons to a minimum might theoretically enhance the usefulness of missile defense systems and their destabilizing role.

But there is another reason for developing missile defense to create a new dynamic in European and Euro Atlantic security.

NATO is developing a ballistic missile defense capability to protect our European populations and territory against a grave and growing threat.

See also Iranian military industry Iran Israel relations Iran's missile forces Israel Defense Forces References External links Joseph S. Bermudez, Jr., Iran's Missile Development, The International Missile Bazaar the New Supplier's Network (San Francisco Westview Press, 1994), William C. Potter and Harlan W. Jencks, eds., p. 48.