A demonstrator carries a sign during a protest march against

the possible stationing of a U.S. missile defense radar system

 in the Czech Republic, in Prague, May 26.

People's Daily, People's Republic of China

Americans Mistaken on Missile Defense 

"Is the United States - by virtue of its national immaturity and geographic location - mistaken in pursuing a national missile defense system? According to this editorial from the state-controlled People's Daily, 'It would be better to reduce the number of spears rather than increase the number of shields.'"

EDITORIAL

May 22, 2007

People's Republic of China - People's Daily - Original Article (English)

The United States plans to deploy its National Missile Defense system in Eastern Europe, and is considering expanding it to the Caucasus. At this point, Washington has received support from thirteen countries in regard to the system's deployment.

Let us examine the way of thinking behind America's painstaking efforts to stretch its missile defense system across the globe.

FIRST, 'ABSOLUTE SECURITY'

The U.S. is a young country, the territory of which has not been invaded in over 200 years [Untrue. Britain invaded in 1812]. The "Pearl Harbor" incident during World War II was an assault on its enclave, and "September 11th" was a terrorist attack. It's unique geographical position until recently kept the flames of war far from home. But ever since missile technology made a direct strike on its territory possible, the idea of "missile defense" has been constantly on the mind of Americans.

SECOND, 'TECHNOLOGY IS PARAMOUNT'

In the development of the United States as a nation, the mentality that "technology overrides all" has been a powerful social ideal. In accordance with this ideal, missile defense is an example of a "bullet hitting a bullet" system. Technically, missile defense has proven quite effective during experiments, but whether it will function during actual combat remains open to question. In warfare, technologies of both "shield and spear" have evolved, but the latter usually has a much lower cost. The workability of the National Missile Defense system depends on the effective coordination of a series of systems, including early warning and command and interception sytems, the development of which will inevitably lead to an arms race in space.

THIRD, 'GLOBAL DOMINANCE'

After World War II, the mainstream mentality in America was "to dominate the world," but these plans were not carried out smoothly. This ambition diminished after the Vietnam War, yet returned again after the Cold War. The global deployment of the National Missile Defense system is also driven by a striving to be the "alliance chief."

Any alliance always has targets, and the National Missile Defense system targets "aliens"; Russia being the first. But throughout U.S. history, allies and enemies been interchangeable. So many of today's enemy targets - such as Manuel Noriega, Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden, were once recipients of American support. Thus this global deployment - considering the changeable nature of American interests - might result in an "incorrect distribution of resources."

History teaches us that the advancement of weapons technology, rather than eliminating warfare - only escalates it. In an era of missiles and nuclear weapons, war has begun to threaten the existence of the entire global community. Such an eventuality can only be avoided by relying on reason and the cooperation of all human beings.

At such a time, it would be better to reduce the number of spears rather than increase the number of shields; it is better to stop war than prepare for it; and it is better to seek collective rather than individual security.