Pursuit of the Shield [Hardcover]

Scott K. McMahon (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0761806865 | ISBN-13: 978-0761806868 | Publication Date: April 24, 1997

Since the 1960s, U.S. political leaders have engaged in a controversial debate regarding the deployment of a strategic ballistic missile defense (BMD) system to protect the American homeland. Using an analytic framework consisting of prerequisites for successful strategic weapon programs, this book assesses BMD proposals from the Cold War era (focusing primarily on the 1967 "Sentinel" proposal). The book develops a consensus-building approach to future strategic BMD policies that is based on lessons learned from Cold War proposals, recent congressional initiatives, and developments in the international security environment. To protect the American people from emerging rogue state threats and potential accidental or unauthorized launches from China and Russia, the United States should deploy a limited strategic BMD system comprising multiple ground-based interceptor sites supported by space-based missile tracking sensors. The study includes a comprehensive arms control proposal aimed at working with Russia and other strategic powers to continue the reduction of Cold War offensive arsenals while deploying limited defenses. Pursuit of the Shield presents a new strategic agenda for a new era, one that will reinforce world peace and security. With a foreword by Senator John Warner, Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Editorial Reviews

Review

McMahon and Warner make a sound argument for developing and deploying a NMD system--'putting 'rubber on the road' to protect American families.>>>> (Military Review Magazine )

"A well-documented history of how policy, ideology, and politics have kept America vulnerable to ballistic missile attack." (Cooper, Ambassador Henry )

"McMahon's program...is timely and innovative...Pursuit of the Shield is a provocative work; it is a 'must read' for students of strategic doctrine and arms control." (Paul Hammond )

McMahon's 'Pursuit of the Shield' is a thoughtful addition to the strategic defense debate. Although many will not agree with him, he is consistent and thorough in proposing an approach that combines limited ballistic missile defenses with a comprehensive arms control proposal. His treatment of the history of the debate, the threat profiles, and the technologies will be useful to both proponents and opponents of strategic defenses.>>> (Rose Gottemoeller )

McMahon's 'Pursuit of the Shield' is a thoughtful addition to the strategic defense debate. Although many will not agree with him, he is consistent and thorough in proposing an approach that combines limited ballistic missile defenses with a comprehensive arms control proposal. His treatment of the history of the debate, the threat profiles, and the technologies will be useful to both proponents and opponents of strategic defenses. (Rose Gottemoeller )

"McMahon and Warner make a sound argument for developing and deploying a NMD system--'putting 'rubber on the road' to protect American families." (Military Review Magazine )

About the Author

K. Scott McMahon is a National Security Analyst at Pacific-Sierra Research Corporation in Arlington, Virginia and has ten years of academic and professional experience in the field of U.S. foreign and defense policy.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 408 pages
• Publisher: University Press Of America (April 24, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0761806865
• ISBN-13: 978-0761806868
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.4 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,261,078 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Indispensable Missile Defense Resource, August 23, 2000

By 

S. Pearson (Arlington, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Pursuit of the Shield (Hardcover)

As a student of National Security, and as somebody who currently works on the National Missile Defense program, "Pursuit Of The Shield" is simply the finest resource available on the history of missile defense. As this volume concentrates on the history of limited missile defense systems, the first half of the book focuses on the early missile defense efforts and the Sentinel program as well as the Gulf War and the debate surrounding the landmark Missile Defense Act of 1991. This legislation and the debate that produced it became the blueprint for tactical and national missile defense programs throughout the Clinton administration. Today's architecture is a direct result of both the technological and political past -- framed by the historical account of the Gulf War and the Missile Defense Act of 1991.

The latter half of the book discusses today's threat environment and Mr. McMahon's vision for missile defense. I have to admit that I disagree with Mr. McMahon's assertion that any future missile defense system should be a cooperative effort between the US and Russia. This point, however, does not detract from my love of this book. It is exhaustively researched and Mr. McMahon's analysis is first rate. Today's missile defense debate usually lacks the correct historical context. This book is a must-have if you're looking to fully underatand the debate surrounding the National Missile Defense system.