New opportunities for U.S. defense systems

While the United States and Russia are ready to sign a treaty to reduce the number of missiles with nuclear warheads (see editorial above), the end of another treaty is creating opportunities for American testing of defensive systems.

Under the 1972 anti-ballistic missile treaty -- from which the United States has withdrawn -- no U.S. military tests of defensive systems could be conducted. Now there are plans to develop underground silos in Alaska to house missile interceptors. And a system of radar defense also is likely to be explored.

Many Americans, particularly Missourians and other Midwesterners, can vividly recall the days of missile silos that dotted mostly prairie farmland. These missiles were aimed at targets in the Soviet Union. Those silos have been emptied in recent years as the military switched to other missile-delivery systems.

Meanwhile, the United States has no means of shooting down long-range missiles. Without the restraints of the ABM treaty, there will be more emphasis on both warning systems and the ability to knock an enemy missile attack out of the sky.

Both the nuclear arms-reduction treaty and the new opportunities to build detection systems and the absence of the ABM treaty can be used to strengthen America's defensive positions.