Strategic Thinking, Deterrence and the US Ballistic Missile Defense Project: From Truman to Obama

239 Pages·2013·1.423 MB·English

by  Reuben Steff

Strategic thinking, Deterrence anD the
US BalliStic MiSSile DefenSe Project
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Strategic thinking, Deterrence
and the US Ballistic Missile
Defense Project
from truman to obama
reUBen Steff
© reuben Steff 2013
all rights reserved. no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying,
recording or otherwise without the prior permission of the publisher.
reuben Steff has asserted his right under the copyright, Designs and Patents act, 1988, to
be identified as the author of this work.
Published by
ashgate Publishing limited ashgate Publishing company
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Union road Suite 3-1
farnham Burlington, Vt 05401-3818
Surrey, gU9 7Pt USa
england
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British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
a catalogue record for this book is available from the British library
The Library of Congress has cataloged the printed edition as follows:
Steff, reuben.
Strategic thinking, deterrence and the US ballistic missile defense project : from truman
to obama / by reuben Steff.
pages cm
includes bibliographical references and index.
iSBn 978-1-4094-6935-3 (hardback) – iSBn 978-1-4094-6936-0 (ebook) – iSBn 978-
1-4094-6937-7 (epub) 1. Ballistic missile defenses–government policy–United States.
2. Deterrence (Strategy)–governmental policy–United States. 3. national security–
United States. i. title.
Ug743.S738 2013
358.1’740973–dc23
2013007751
iSBn 9781409469353 (hbk)
iSBn 9781409469360 (ebk – PDf)
iSBn 9781409469377 (ebk – ePUB)
V
contents
Acknowledgements vii
List of Abbreviations ix
introduction 1
1 Deterrence theory, World order and Missile Defense 7
2 the emergence of the Missile Defense Project after 1945 35
3 Holding the Line Against the Nuclear Warfighters?
the clinton administration and the containment of
rogue States 53
4 the Paradigm Shift:
the george W. Bush administration’s embrace of
Missile Defense 79
5 Finding the Middle Ground? The Obama
administration’s consolidation and expansion of
Missile Defense 103
6 Destabilizing great Power relations:
russian and chinese hard Balancing against US
Missile Defense 117
7 the contours of the Missile Defense Debate in the
Twenty-first Century 139
8 the Persistence of the Missile Defense Project:
Domestic and Systemic Drivers 159
conclusion 177
Bibliography 185
Index 219
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acknowledgements
i am deeply grateful to Professor robert g. Patman for the time he spent reading
this work and subsequent input. i could not have asked for a better academic role
model and i am grateful to him for all he has taught me. Dr. nicholas khoo also
played a valuable role by suggesting amendments and providing excellent sources.
Peter cozens, former director of the centre for Strategic Studies new Zealand,
met with me on several occasions at the beginning of this project, providing keen
insights that provided a brilliant intellectual spark with which to begin this project.
i thank my family for their generosity, love and support. i am greatly indebted to
my sister, carmel, and my parents, all of whom have edited this work in its various
incarnations.
i would also like to thank the Department of Political Studies at the University
of otago which assisted with my trips abroad to the international Security
Studies and arms control Section of the american Political Science association
conference in rhode island in 2010, the Uk Political Studies association annual
conference in london in 2011, and the australian Political Studies conference
in Canberra, 2011. My project benefited from contributions and critiques at these
conferences, and through departmental seminars. i thank these institutions for
their support.
finally, i dedicate this study to my good friend Didem Yaman, who tragically
passed away during the early stages of this project. She was a considerate and
selfless person, and taught me the value of living in the present. I am honored to
have known her.
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list of abbreviations
a2/aD anti-access/area-Denial
aBl airborne laser
aBM anti-Ballistic Missile treaty
arPa advanced research Projects agency
aSat anti-Satellite
aSB air-Sea Battle
BMD Ballistic Missile Defense
BMDo Ballistic Missile Defense organization
BMDr Ballistic Missile Defense review
caD collective actor Deterrence
caD+ collective actor Defense
cD conference on Disarmament
cia central intelligence agency
cP counterproliferation
cPrc counterproliferation Program review committee
cta comparative technological advantage
ctBt comprehensive test-Ban treaty
ctr cooperative threat reduction
DarPa Defense advanced research Projects agency
Dcag Deterrence concepts advisory group
Dci Defense counterproliferation initiative
DoD Department of Defense
Doe Department of energy
DPg Defense Planning guidance
DSB Defense Science Board
fSD full Spectrum Dominance
GAO General Accounting Office
gDP gross Domestic Product
gMD ground-based Missile Defense
gPalS global Protection against limited Strikes
hDBt hardened and Deeply Buried targets