Ballistic Missile Defence and US National Security Policy: Normalisation and Acceptance after the Cold War

238 Pages·2013·5.97 MB·English

by  Andrew Futter

Ballistic Missile Defence and US
National Security Policy
This book examines the transformation in US thinking about the role of Ballistic
Missile Defence (BMD) in national security policy since the end of the Cold
War.
The evolution of the BMD debate after the Cold War has been complex, com-
plicated and punctuated. As this book shows, the debate and subsequent policy
choices would often appear to reflect neither the particular requirements of the
international system for US security at any given time, nor indeed the current
capabilities of BMD technology.
Ballistic Missile Defence and US National Security Policy traces the evolu-
tion of policy from the zero-s um debates that surrounded the Strategic Defense
Initiative as Ronald Reagan left office, up to the relative political consensus that
exists around a limited BMD deployment in 2012. The book shows how and
why policy evolved in such a complex manner during this period, and explains
the strategic reasoning and political pressures shaping BMD policy under each
of the presidents who have held office since 1989. Ultimately, this volume dem-
onstrates how relative advancements in technology, combined with growth in the
perceived missile threat, gradually shifted the contours and rhythm of the
domestic missile defence debate in the US towards acceptance and
normalisation.
This book will be of much interest to students of missile defence and arms
control, US national security policy, strategic studies and international relations
in general.
Andrew Futter is Lecturer in International Politics at the University of
Leicester, and has a Ph.D. in International Relations from the University of
Birmingham, UK.
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Eastern rivalries National Security Policy
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Cold War
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Ballistic Missile Defence and
US National Security Policy
Normalisation and acceptance after the
Cold War
Andrew Futter
First published 2013
by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN
Simultaneously published in the USA and Canada
by Routledge
711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2013 Andrew Futter
The right of Andrew Futter to be identified as author of this work has been
asserted by him in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright,
Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or
utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now
known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in
any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing
from the publishers.
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or
registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation
without intent to infringe.
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloging- in-Publication Data
Futter, Andrew, 1983–
Ballistic missile defence and US national security policy: normalisation
and acceptance after the Cold War/Andrew Futter.
p. cm. – (Routledge global security studies)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
1. Ballistic missile defenses–United States–History. 2. National
security–United States–History. 3. United States–Military policy–
History. 4. United States–Defenses–History. 5. Cold War. I. Title.
UG743.F885 2013
358.1′740973–dc23 2012041341
ISBN: 978-0-415-81732-5 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-0-203-58447-7 (ebk)
Typeset in Times
by Wearset Ltd, Boldon, Tyne and Wear
This book is dedicated to my late father, John Futter.
This Page intentionally left blank
Contents
Introduction 1
1 The origins of the US ballistic missile defence debate
(1945–1989) 8
2 The missile defence pragmatist – George H. W. Bush
(1989–1993) 20
3 Bill Clinton and the end of the Star Wars era (1993–1997) 46
4 Party politics and Republican pressure for deployment
(1997–2001) 70
5 George W. Bush, ABM Treaty abrogation and
deployment (2001–2005) 92
6 Expanding and integrating the US Missile Defence
Programme (2005–2009) 116
7 The reluctant convert – Barack Obama (2009–2012) 134
Conclusion: normalisation and acceptance 159
Cast of characters 168
Glossary 170
Notes 172
Select bibliography 206
Index 224