Nuclear defense more feasible and more desirable for the U.S.

A Ballistic Missile Defense Conference was held by the Lexington Institute in order to discuss the positive developments of U.S. missile defense since the Cold War, as well as future strategies. Loren Thompson of the Lexington Institute said that nuclear defense is more feasible and more desirable for the U.S. Thompson explained that the United States’ ability to defend itself has improved and the nation is more nuclear capable, therefore making nuclear defense more feasible. The character and ideology of the nation’s enemies has also changed, Thompson said, creating more chances of misunderstandings between them and the U.S. and making nuclear defense more desirable.

Dr. Daniel Goure, the Vice President of the Lexington Institute, talked about the future of missile defense. Goure said that the U.S. needs to recognize that there is no longer a bipolar relationship with the Soviets, and that rationality on behalf of U.S. enemies cannot be assured. He said that the nation needs missile defense systems that deploy globally but act locally. Goure also said that the U.S. needs more programs that work on the offensive instead of continually focusing on the defensive.

Baker Spring of the Heritage Foundation talked about the increasing importance in the overall role of missile defense. Spring said that the U.S. needs to modernize defense missile strategies, creating a mix of both the offensive and defensive capabilities. In order to accomplish this, Spring explained that U.S. missile defense needs to meet stability requirements and operational capabilities.