ntrol the number of nuclear weapons, the two signed the ABM treaty that brought a halt to the production of strategic ballistic missiles. The treaty originally limited the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. from developing, testing, and deploying an ABM system. The agreement permitted partial regional defense at two ABM sites with 200 launchers and interceptors, but it prohibited any establishment of a nationwide defense. The ABM peace treaty ended an arms race while establishing an open channel to negotiate the limitations of strategic arms control that prevented any major confrontation between the two states for decades. If the United States abandons the ABM treaty, we will be virtually trading in our reputation for an unnecessary and unreliable missile defense system. The U.S.’s role as a superpower in international politics is too valuable, the creation of a missile defense must not jeopardize the United States’ role in global political affairs. In the end, diplomacy should be the United States’ first line of defense, only resulting to ballistic missile defense as a last resort. After decades of mending our relationship with Russia, the United States must not throw away the peace progress by promoting another arms race by initiating a NMD system. Working with our allies to deter the threat of these “rogue states” is far better than working against our allies by building an unpopular NMD system. The price of peace is by far greater than the occurrence of a second Cold War.Granted that we should not totally abandon the concept of a national defense system, we should take into account the following factors when considering the research and construction of a national defense system....
