DEFENSELESS AMERICA

by Charles Krauthammer
Columnist, Washington Post

America has no defense against an incoming missile--and the fact that we do not is an unforgivable moral lapse on the part of every politician who has opposed the development of a missile defense system.  Recently, the U. S. Senate failed, by one vote, to approve funding for such a defense system.  Every single Senator who voted against this funding should be voted out of office.

As matters stand now, as Charles Krauthammer makes clear, America is defenseless in the event of the launch of a nuclear missile aimed at, say, where you live.  Within a matter of minutes, America could suffer the worst catastrophe in its history and the aftermath of such a disaster could very well bring an end to America as we have known it.  It is insanity to leave us vulnerable to such a calamity.

When it comes to military defense, we should be prepared for the worst.  We are not prepared for the worst.  Instead, we have the Clinton administration approving the transfer of critical technology to the likes of China, technology which enables China to improve the accuracy of their missiles, some of which are reportedly aimed at U. S. cities. 

Now, we have Pakistan with nuclear weapons, weapons they reportedly developed with the assistance of China.  It is only a matter of time before Pakistan begins to provide nuclear and missile technology to their spiritual brethren in Iran and Iraq.

While we still have the time to do so, we urgently need to get on with the job of developing a defense against missiles.   It boggles the mind that a single person in this country could disagree with this and that so many in this country are so nonchalant about the potential threat looming on the horizon.

Fulton Huxtable
May 31, 1998

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