NATIONAL MISSILE DEFENSE
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Dec. 13, 2001:
PRESIDENT BUSH ANNOUCES US WITHDRAWAL FROM ABM TREATY
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WAND / WOMEN TAKE ACTION! BULLETIN BOARD
Week of July 15, 2001
Special Section on Missile Defense
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NUCLEAR NOTES * Special Section on Missile Defense
- NATIONAL MISSILE DEFENSE TEST
On Saturday, July 14, the Pentagon conducted the fourth intercept
test of the National Missile Defense (NMD) system. The test cost
$100 million. Military officials said their tracking data showed a
direct hit and declared the test a success. (Atl. Journal-Constitution,
7/15, A1) To receive a model letter to the editor in response to the
Saturday test, contact WAND Nuclear Program Associate Carlean
Ponder at (202) 543-8505 or nuclear@wand.org.
- TESTING OR DEPLOYMENT? ABM TREATY IN DANGER
Last week Pentagon officials announced an ambitious missile-testing
plan than could put in place by 2004 or 2005 a rudimentary system of
Alaska-based missile interceptors, jet-mounted lasers, and interceptors
launched from ships. The Pentagon, whose stated intent is to switch
its emphasis from deployment to testing, is asking Congress for money
to build a missile defense test site in Alaska. However, various
administration officials say that the new Alaska test facilities could
be declared operational in an "emergency," thus blurring the line
between testing and deployment. The plan will almost surely violate
the 1972 Antiballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty, which prohibits development
and deployment of national defenses against long-range ballistic missiles.
The Bush administration views the ABM Treaty as an “impediment” that
should be abandoned in favor of National Missile Defense. Senate
Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin (D-MI), in a hearing
on July 12, threatened to block any spending that would violate the ABM
Treaty. Others agree. Senator Max Cleland from Georgia said, “I think
if we throw out the ABM treaty here, we’re throwing out the baby with the
bath water. Congress ought to use the power of the purse in rejecting this
increase.” (NYT, 7/13/01, A6)
- ADDITIONAL MISSILE DEFENSE TALKING POINTS
COST - THE PENTAGON BUDGET REQUEST FOR NEXT YEAR
The Bush administration has requested $8.3 billion for FY2002 missile
defense programs, an increase of $3 billion or 57% over last year.
The missile defense increase alone is greater than the defense budgets
of every country in the world except England, Russia, China and Japan
and greater than the Gross Domestic Products of over one third of the
individual nations in the world.
CUTS FOR REAL SECURITY
The Pentagon budget request cuts Defense Department Cooperative
Threat Reduction Programs (Nunn-Lugar) by $40 million from $443
million to $403 million. The administration has already reduced the
Department of Energy non-proliferation programs by $100 million.
EASY TESTS
Flight tests are being dumbed down to ensure the public perception
of success. The Pentagon, for example, is reducing the number of
decoys, operators are relying on artificially ''canned'' scenarios, and
interceptors are being given advance information they won't have in
real engagements. (Arms Trade Resource Center Missile Defense
Update, 7/11/01)
- POLLING DATA ON NATIONAL MISSILE DEFENSE
The Mellman Group, July 9, 2001
Recent polling on the missile defense issue yields three key findings:
- Americans are not paying very close attention to this story;
- missile defense is not a high priority, even compared with other defense
concerns; and
- initial support for a national missile defense shield turns
to opposition when voters are focused on the failure of the system to work
and the fact that developing such a system would violate a treaty the U.S.
has signed.
To receive this report email Laurel Westmoreland at stand@wand.org.
- STOP STAR WARS RESOURCES
- A. "A STAR WARS STORY THAT WON’T END HAPPILY
"
Article by WAND Founder Dr. Helen Caldicott
Sydney Morning Herald, July 12, 2001
Excerpt: "We (Australia) are about to become the 51st State as we
help America take nuclear war to outer space."
For full article email membership@wand.org
- B. The Arms Trade Resource Center, in conjunction with Foreign Policy In
Focus recently released a new report on missile defense, STAR WARS
REVISITED, available on line at www.fpif.org/briefs/vol6/v6n25swars.html.
Email Frida (berrigaf@newschool.edu) for a hard copy.
- C. Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space
www.space4peace.org resources & upcoming protests/actions.
- D. War Resisters League Organizers' Kit. Contact Chris Ney,
(212)228-0450. www.warresisters.org/index.html
- E. Women’s Action for New Directions, 202-543-8505, nuclear@wand.org
WAND / WOMEN TAKE ACTION! BULLETIN BOARD
Week of June 18, 2001
Special Edition: Missile Defense
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- 1. PROMOTING SECURITY THROUGH NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT
- Last week, hundreds came together in Washington, DC to oppose a
Star Wars missile defense system and weapons in outer space, and
to call for the elimination of nuclear weapons. Participants held a
White House rally, press conference, and meetings with members of
Congress to spread the message that national missile defense (NMD)
will not work, it is too expensive, and it will make us less safe by
sparking a new arms race. For a report by Kevin Martin, Project
Abolition Director, email membership@wand.org
memberhip@wand.org.
Thanks to all WAND, WiLL, and STAND members and partners
who traveled to Washington to "Stop the New Arms Race," and
to all who made travel possible through scholarship support.
http://www.projectabolition.org
- 2. HOUSE TESTIMONY: MORE MONEY NEEDED FOR MISSILE SHIELD
- Lt. General Ronald Kadish, director of the Ballistic Missile Defense
Organization, testified on missile defense last week before a House
Subcommittee on Military Research and Development. General Kadish
warned against rushing to develop a missile shield without careful planning
and a major infusion of money. He expressed support for more aggressive
testing if adequate funding was allocated.
Pentagon officials estimate that increased testing costs would require
billions or tens of billions of additional dollars. A typical missile defense
test costs $100 million.
- SELLING MISSILE DEFENSE TO A WARY EUROPE
- Last week, in Mr. Bush's first overseas trip as president, missile
defense took center stage. The President sought to ease fears
among NATO allies and Russia that the U.S. would arrogantly go
it alone on missile defense. He spoke of a new international security
concept, though this concept is largely undefined.
NATO allies and Russia continue to stand by the 1972 Antiballistic
Missile (ABM) Treaty, a cornerstone of nuclear arms control that is
threatened by Bush missile defense plans.
Germany, France, and the Netherlands expressed strong concern
that Mr. Bush's missile defense would trigger a new arms race.
French president Jacques Chirac said that a missile shield
represented a "fantastic incentive to proliferate" weapons because
terrorist or hostile states would build more arms in an attempt to
trump the new defenses.
The meeting between President Bush and Russian President
Vladimir Putin was warm and positive, in spite of major policy
differences on issues such as missile defense and NATO
expansion. Mr. Putin warned against developing a missile
defense without Moscow's consent. The Bush administration
has spoken of offering Russia arms purchases, military aid and
joint antimissile exercises as incentives to scrap the ABM Treaty.
(Source: NYT 6/17/01, A1, A8; 6/14/01, A1)
- 1. MISSILE DEFENSE CALLS, LETTERS, EMAIL
- CONTACT THE SENATE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE
Michigan * Maine * Connecticut * Louisiana
Hawaii * Florida * Nebraska * Missouri
Senator Carl Levin (D-MI), Senate Armed Service Committee Chair,
opposes the President's plan to move quickly on a missile defense
system that would abrogate the Antiballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty
and spark a news arms race. Senator Levin needs our help lobbying
swing voters on the Senate Armed Services Committee about the
dangers of the President's plan.
- Susan Collins, Maine (R)
Joe Lieberman, Connecticut (D)
Mary Landrieu, Louisiana (D)
Daniel Inouye, Hawaii (D)
Bill Nelson, Florida (D)
Ben Nelson, Nebraska (D)
Jean Carnahan, Missouri (D)
ACTION: Call your contacts, friends and relatives in these states
and ask them to write their senators opposing missile defense.
It will not work. It is too expensive. It will make us less secure
by sparking a new arms race.
Contact information: http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/
Congressional Switchboard: (202) 224-3121
- 2. MISSILE DEFENSE: MODEL LETTERS FROM THE BRINK
- THE REAL ARMS THREAT: Nuclear Weapons on Hair-Trigger Alert
www.backfromthebrink.org
The danger of nuclear conflict is real, but missile defense is not the
answer. Almost 5000 Russian and U.S. nuclear weapons are on
hair-trigger alert, which means that they could be launched in minutes.
One false alarm or one computer error could result in nuclear war by
mistake. That's the biggest nuclear threat today. The answer:
De-Alerting. Take nuclear weapons off hair-trigger alert.
ACTION: Letters to the Editor. The Back from the Brink Campaign
has provided four model letters to the editor and talking points
on de-alerting. To receive this resource, email your request to
membership@wand.org
- 3. CUT NIF CALL-IN DAY - Thursday, June 21st
- To receive NIF background info via email: membership@wand.org
ACTION: Call your senators and representative on Thursday, June 21.
Ask them to oppose funding for the National Ignition Facility, the biggest
boondoggle in the U.S. nuclear weapons complex. The funding will be
allocated in the Department of Energy (DOE) appropriation bill.
Congressional Switchboard: 202-224-3121
TALKING POINTS
- The NIF is plagued by technical problems and is wasting billions
of taxpayer dollars.
- The NIF undermines U.S. obligations under the Non-Proliferation
Treaty and may provoke nuclear proliferation.
- The National Ignition Facility is not needed for the safety and
reliability of the U.S. nuclear arsenal.
WANT TO DO MORE?
- Share this alert with other groups and local activists.
- Organize a call-in campaign for your local group.
- Send letters to the editor pointing out the NIF's nuclear proliferation
dangers and its massive waste of taxpayer dollars.
INFO: Alliance for Nuclear Accountability (ANA)
(202) 833-4668 www.ananuclear.org
- 1. OREGON - CONGRESSMAN EARL BLUMENAUER
- Last Tuesday, Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) joined
activists from across the country voicing opposition to President
Bush's national missile defense policies.
For a press release: membership@wand.org
ACTION: Contact Congressman Blumenauer to thank him for
his strong position against the President's NMD policies.
- The Honorable Earl Blumenauer
United States House of Representatives
1406 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-3703
Phone: 202-225-4811; Fax: 202-225-8941
District Office: 516 SE Morrison, Suite 250
Portland, OR 97214-2327
Voice: 503-231-2300; FAX: 503-230-5413
- 2. PENNSYLVANIA PROTESTS
- Radisson Hotel (a mile from Lockheed Martin's Valley Forge complex)
Institute for Foreign Policy Conference, www.ifpa.org
Invited speakers include: Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld, Lt.
General Ronald Kadish, Director of the Ballistic Missile Defense
Organization, and various Ballistic Missile Defense contractors.
Protest Star Wars and the Militarization of Space at this major
conference of military, legislative and corporate Star Warriors.
Thursday, June 28, noon - 2pm & Friday, June 29, 8am - noon.
INFO & Directions: Brandywine Peace Community
610-544-1818, brandywine@juno.com
"You say the scientific evidence isn't strong enough to go forward
with Kyoto. So then how do you justify your missile defense plan
when there is even less scientific evidence that that will work?"
- Journalist question to President Bush at a news conference
last week in Madrid
NYT Week in Review, James Glanz, "Sure, It's Rocket Science,
but Who Needs Scientists?", 6/17/01.
Sample Letters
Letter on US withdrawal from ABM
President Bush's regrettable decision to withdraw the U.S.
from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty (ABM) has implications
far beyond whether or not Russia accepts the decision.
This unilateral action is a devastating setback to international
relations, particularly with China and Southern Asia, undermining America's security needs.
China has a nuclear arsenal of approximately 400 weapons. China's response to
U.S. deployment of a national missile defense will almost certainly be to modernize
and add weapons to its arsenal-making it more of a threat to the U.S. In addition,
the U.S. needs to work cooperatively with China to insist that it does not transfer ballistic
missile or nuclear weapons technology to other countries, as it did in the past to Pakistan.
Controlling transfer of nuclear weapons technology and proliferation of nuclear materials is already a growing problem in South Asia.
The issue with deploying a national missile defense is whether the United States would be more secure or less secure as a result.
Sincerely,
(Your name)
Other Letters
To the Editor:
After years of failure, over $75 billion spent, and top independent
scientists maintaining Star Wars will never be effective, the Pentagon
claimed victory asserting that the July 14th Star Wars missile intercept
test was successful. As usual, pronouncements from the Pentagon must be
taken with a high level of skepticism. The LA Times (July 19th) reported
that the :"X-band" radar-- the eyes of the interceptor weapon-- failed during
the test. Then Defense Week (July 31) reported that the dummy warhead used
in the test was outfitted with a beacon that told the interceptor missile
where to find it.
It's time to cut-off this national defense swindle. I call on Senators X and
Y, along with (your state) Representatives to cut off this waste of tax
dollars. This is a corporate welfare project that has nothing to do with
national defense.
Sincerely,
Your name here
Anna, Angry activist
(The following letter ran in the Missoulian newspaper in Montana -- July, 2001)
Editor:
The Missoulian is right to point out the many problems with Mr. Bush's outrageously expensive and ill-advised national missile defense system
("Speculative solution to speculative threat," 6/13/01). Not only will it siphon billions from domestic programs into an technical black hole,
it will actually increase nuclear threats faced by the United States and dismantle a key arms control treaty.
Missile defense is sold to the public as a "defensive shield," evoking images of a protective dome innocently stretched over
the country. In reality, it is a new generation of globally-positioned ballistic missiles and sophisticated radar systems --
a fact not lost on Russia, China, and other potential adversaries. They see clearly that Mr. Bush's Shield of Dreams is really
about lethal weaponry, not innocuous umbrellas.
They also know it allows the US first-strike capability in nuclear war. (Our government refuses to adopt a no-first-use policy.)
Consequently, Russia and China will ratchet up their nuclear capability if the US deploys missile defense. It could also trigger
regional cooperation to respond to an increased US nuclear threat, such as a sharing of missile technology between China and North
Korea where nuclear security already hangs in a delicate balance.
Though he confidently (and inaccurately) stamped his recent overseas missile defense road show "mission accomplished," Mr Bush failed
to silence the concerns of European allies over the system. Nor has he explained to the US public what we have to gain by a high-tech,
low-success, fiscally irresponsible, and leaky military umbrella. That it will undermine arms control efforts and spark increases in
offensive capabilities in the only countries that can currently reach the US with nuclear missiles only adds to the insanity.
Mr. Bush just requested another $600 million for missile defense. Montana's representatives should act responsibly and defeat this
senseless and dangerous program.
Pat Ortmeyer
Missoula, MT
WAND
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