President Bush and the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty

When the Cold War came to a finish in 1972, the Soviet Union and the United States of America knew some sort of action needed to be taken to evade a nuclear war in the future. The U.S. wanted an agreement with the Soviet Union for the limitation of “strategic offensive arms”. From this dilemma, the Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty was produced, and signed, by both countries to put an end to their aggression towards each other and to limit anti-ballistic missile systems designed to defend against strategic ballistic missiles. After nearly 30 years of the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty being in effect, the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, and extenuating circumstances taking place in the United States, President George W. Bush has made the right decision to pull out of the treaty.

Although it was made for the purpose of preventing countries to acquire an anti-missile defense system, that was in the past and things are dissimilar now. Time has changed, and along with it, so have methods of defense. Many events have occurred in the previous thirty years that make the treaty out of date, so President Bush made the correct decision for our nation by making the choice to remove the U.S. from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty.

The ABM Treaty may have banned anti-ballistic missile systems, but it did allow the research, development and limited deployment of some type of ground-based anti-ballistic missile system. However, this was written and signed with the idea of a certain type of technological approach in mind at the time and since then, technology has greatly advanced. Other countries have recently given the United States reasonability to be removed from this treaty. The United States government has obviously considered alternatives and has taken the correct actions to guard this country.

A number of terrorist attacks against the United States have taken place over the years, when this system could have possibly prevented some them. A build up of arms has begun between the U.S. and European countries to cause America to believe, beyond reasonable doubt, that an anti-ballistic missile system is the preeminent option for citizens of this country. September 11th, 2001, is just one example that the United States has first-rate reason to be against the treaty and find better ways to protect the U.S.

President George W. Bush, although only beginning the second year of his Presidency, was forced to make this decision for the people of America. Russia may not approve of, or be happy with, the United States pulling out of the treaty, but everyone knew it was bound to happen sooner or later. It’s perfectly legal for Bush to pull out; as long as he has given a six month’s advanced notice to Russia, which he has. That means the United States is pulling out the proper way by withdrawing in agreement with the terms in the treaty.

Shortly, the defense system should be in effect. It’s designed to have a missile that can locate and mark any missiles making their way towards U.S. soil and destroy them. They are destroyed over a vast body or water or in the atmosphere, causing no damage to anyone or anything. Bush’s administration knew that this system could save thousands of lives and he was aware of the possibility that it could come in good use sometime in the early future.

Putin, of Russia, should not look down upon President Bush for removing the U.S. from this treaty, but be in high spirits because he can also remove his country from the treaty and develop an anti-ballistic missile system for his own country. If most countries are secured by this type of system, however, other countries may well not be fearful of firing missiles at them. Also, this can give Russia political points. They can keep calm about the treaty, get along with U.S., and look like a peacemaker.

If the system works, despite the fact that it’s still in testing and could cost tens of billions of dollars, thousands of lives can be saved in all countries that contain this system. President Bush will have proven that he was in the right, and made precedence when this conclusion was come to someday in the future. The ABM Treaty may have been of great importance thirty years ago, but now is the time for it to be forgotten. If other countries oppose the choice President Bush made, then other compromises can be made with them, but the President is aware that his primary obligation is the safety of the citizens of his country, and he is doing what he knows is right to keep them secure.