As North Korea prepares to launch yet another ballistic missile test into the earth’s atmosphere, with the officially professed purpose of sending a satellite into orbit, but what most analysts fear will be a saber rattling test of the Taepodong-2, the NK’s most advanced missile with an estimated range of 4,200 miles and capable of reaching Alaska, I guess it’s a good time to discuss a US missile defense system (MDS) again.  

But to tell you the truth, I’m still just so wrapped up on GPP’s Great Power Rankings to go into too much analysis, so here are some interesting resources debating the issue for you to check out.  While the Obama administration seems to be ready to put the Bush accelerated US MDS plan on hold, as it has been critical of its ability to function and its cost and has let Moscow now that the MDS in Czech and Poland are on the table, there are those pushing back strongly against this policy.  The conservative Heritage Foundation has released a short propaganda film about the dangers of neglecting a MDS in the US and Avi Davis of the American Freedom Alliance held an interesting, informative, yet one-sided debate favoring missile defense on Blogtalk Radio.  Both the video and radio broadcast leave much to be desired in terms of debating the negatives and positives of the issue, but they nevertheless bring forth valid arguments.  Though it is now a bit dated, Michael E. O’Hanlon of the Brookings Institution provides a more centrist, and Democratic party-centered view, also in favor of the system.  

Despite these advocates’ views, MDS is obviously a criticized and controversial issue.  How do these scholars and proponents of MDS answer these six specific criticisms of the MDS?

1. Technology  2. Is there really a threat?  3. Is it worth the costs?  4. Does it aggravate friends and foes alike?  5. Does it undermine international law?  6. Can’t the system be easily countered by a massive attack/suitcase nuke?