Twixt Scilla and Charybdis: Theater Missile Defense and the ABM Treaty.

Abstract : In 1972 the U.S. and the Soviet Union agreed to leave their territories vulnerable to strategic missile attack. This agreement was manifest in the Antiballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty. This Treaty prohibits deployment of nation-wide defenses against strategic missiles. Since then a new threat has arisen, theater missiles (TBMs), which threaten U.S. deployed forces and may impede the freedom of movement of those forces. In response to this new threat the U.S. has proposed a formidable response - state of the art theater missile defense (TMD). In order to clarify the interplay between the ABM Treaty and TMD President Clinton has proposed a 'demonstrated capability' standard to distinguish between prohibited strategic missile defense and permitted theater missile defense. Some in the Arms Control community condemn his initiative and U.S. TMD developed in accordance with the standard the President proposes. This paper addresses the aBM Treaty, U.S. TMD, and the Arms Control criticism and concludes that U.S. TMD does not violate the Treaty and furthermore, the President's initiative demonstrates his commitment to the ABM Treaty.