star wars

In late June the Bush administration published the final budget for next years defense programs including missile defense. This was the first glimpse at the conclusions of the review of missile defense programs ordered by the President and decisions about what, if any, programs were to be cut.

When U.S. President Clinton, pressured by political considerations, initiated plans for a National Missile Defense System, he proposed a limited land-based system, costing $60 billion and consisting of 100 interceptor missiles located in Alaska, backed by a network of early warning satellites, ground-based radars and battle management computers. In the words of former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, the system would be designed to shoot down "a few tens" of incoming missiles.

Summary
Greenpeace's campaign to stop a Star Wars missile system evolves from a thirty-year history campaigning for nuclear disarmament.

Greenpeace opposes the U.S. Star Wars Missile plan because such a system would ignite a new nuclear arms race. Should the plan go ahead Americans will spend hundreds of billions of tax dollars for a technically flawed scheme that offers only the illusion of protection. There will also be increased nuclear dangers in a world where there are far more nuclear weapons as countries such as China bolster their nuclear arsenals to overcome Star Wars. "Star Wars" sole beneficiaries will be U.S.

Greenpeace uses the term "Star Wars" to describe U.S government's proposed National Missile Defence (NMD) because of the current plan's similarity to the "Star Wars" plan promoted by defence contractors and President Ronald Reagan in the 1980's. "Star Wars" is a system of radars and satellites used to detect incoming missiles. These radars and satellites are intended to communicate information to missiles launched from the U.S. to enable them to intercept and destroy the incoming enemy missiles before they reach their target. As yet, the plan remains a only a theory.

Star wars is likely lead to a new arms race, make the US more aggressive in its foreign policy and create new targets for attack, including the UK. Below are a selection of quotes from political leaders, military commanders, parliamentarians, media commentators and foreign affairs specialists on Star Wars (National Missile Defence).

Building the shield, sharpening the sword

Greenpeace's origins as a peace and environmental organisation were built from its founding rationale: its opposition to the building of nuclear weapons.

That this House expresses concern at President Bush's intention to move beyond the constraints of the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty in developing missile defence...