Over the last few days two separate events have underscored once again the challenge the United States and various nations face from the growing threat of missile proliferation.
Last Friday, a test of the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD), an important part of America's missile defense system to protect the U.S. homeland failed at intercepting its target. A short statement from the Department of Defense explained "Program officials will conduct an extensive review to determine the cause or causes of any anomalies which may have prevented a successful intercept."
To add insult to injury, a new report, authored by DOD’s National Air and Space Intelligence Center, makes some stark predictions concerning the growing challenge ballistic and cruise missiles posse. The report, entitled "Ballistic and Cruise Missile Threat" notes that "Iran could develop and test an ICBM capable of reaching the United States by 2015." If Tehran were to develop a nuclear weapon and eventually place it on an ICBM — combined with North Korea's growing nuclear and missile programs — the United States and its allies would face tough strategic challenges, none of which are easily solvable.
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