The President, the Congress and American Missile Defence Policy
Title:
The President, the Congress and American Missile Defence Policy
Author:
Auerswald, D. P.
Appeared in:
Defence studies
Paging:
Volume 1 (2001) nr. 2 pages 57-82
Year:
2001
Contents:
The American debate over National Missile Defense (NMD) has begun again in earnest, the outcome of which has implications for strategic stability, US security and global non-proliferation efforts. Although the Bush administration advocates robust missile defences, deployment is not a foregone conclusion. Thirty-five years of American policy demonstrates that Congressional support is crucial to the long-term viability of any missile defence system. Furthermore, Congress has historically supported incremental, rather than dramatic, changes in missile defence policy. Given the stakes involved, it is important to understand the political dynamics behind American missile defence decisions. This article considers the role politics has played, and is likely to play, in the American missile
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