CNS Research Story

Missile Defense and Space Policy: 2004 Presidential Candidate Positions

Photo
Missile defense test.

by Caitlin Baczuk and Rebecca Schauer

February 16, 2004


With the 2004 presidential campaign heating up, it is useful to survey the leading candidates on two of the most central issues related to U.S. national security: missile defense and space policy. President George W. Bush and the leading Democratic presidential contenders offer differing views on missile defense, the weaponization of space, and space exploration. While Senator John Kerry, Senator John Edwards, and Governor Howard Dean all support the concepts of creating some form of a national missile defense system and expanding space exploration, their views diverge significantly from those of President Bush on several key points, namely, the prioritization of space-based defenses, missile defense, and space exploration relative to other U.S. military and domestic needs. Among the Democratic candidates, Senator Kerry and Senator Edwards have both made similar, general statements on missile defense and space exploration, while Governor Dean has gone so far as to endorse certain types of missile defense and space exploration missions. On the weaponization of space, President Bush is in favor of the development and deployment of space-based weapons. Senator Kerry and Senator Edwards oppose such measures, while Governor Dean's position has been ambiguous.

President George W. Bush

The Bush administration believes that a missile defense system is "essential" to the security of the United States to "meet the new threats we face."[1] On December 13, 2001, President Bush announced the U.S. withdrawal from the 1972 U.S.- Soviet Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty, which prohibited either country from developing nation-wide defenses against long-range missiles and from testing any missile defenses in space.[2] On November 24, 2003, President Bush declared that "the spread of ballistic missile technology, along with the spread of weapons of mass destruction, is a terrible danger to America and to the world, and we must have the tools and the technologies to properly protect our people."[3] His missile defense plans include the development of a layered missile defense with initial ground-based, mid-course defense capabilities to be deployed by September 2004.[4] President Bush's FY 2005 budget request includes approximately $10.7 billion for missile defense programs, with $9.1 billion allocated for missile defense programs through the Missile Defense Agency (MDA), and another $1.6 billion for programs outside of the MDA.[5]

President Bush has taken policy actions in support of the development and deployment of space-based weapons. In withdrawing from the ABM Treaty, President Bush cited the need for the "freedom and flexibility to develop effective defenses against [terrorist] attacks."[6] Abrogation of the ABM Treaty freed the United States from the prohibition on the development, testing, or deployment of space-based missile defense components.[7] The Bush administration continues research into space-based interceptors for boost phase missile defense and has allowed the U.S. Air Force to proceed on a path toward "space control," which includes the development of both offensive and defensive counterspace technologies to achieve U.S. "space superiority."[8,9]

On January 14, 2004, President Bush announced a new space exploration program centered on developing a new manned spacecraft and establishing a manned base on the Moon in preparation for an eventual Mars mission.[10] In his speech, Bush pledged international cooperation in space exploration declaring: "We'll invite other nations to share the challenges and opportunities of this new era of discovery. The vision I outline today is a journey, not a race, and I call on other nations to join us on this journey, in a spirit of cooperation and friendship."[10] However, it was not clear if all countries-such as China-would be welcomed as partners. To initially fund the program, Bush proposed $12 billion ($11 billion in existing NASA funding and $1 billion in new funding) over the next five years.[11]

Democratic Presidential Candidates

Senator John Kerry

Senator Kerry is in favor of a missile defense system, but he opposed the Bush administration's withdrawal from the ABM Treaty, as well as its current plans for an early deployment of missile defense capabilities. In answer to a question posed by Peace Action, "Do you support the development of a national missile defense?" Kerry asserted his support for "an effective defense against ballistic missiles that is deployed with maximum transparency and consultation with U.S. allies and other major powers."[12] In a floor statement following Bush's 2001 speech on missile defense and the ABM Treaty, Kerry called missile defense a "response of last resort," that is "only one part of a comprehensive national security strategy."[13] He stressed that the ABM Treaty could be amended, "but to abandon it all-together is to welcome an arms race that will make us more vulnerable, not less."[13] Senator Kerry voted for the National Missile Defense Act of 1999 (passed, 97-3) and in 2000 voted for the failed Durbin Amendment that would have required real world testing of missile defense systems and the establishment of an independent testing review panel.[14,15]

Senator Kerry supports the U.S. military space program for its intelligence-gathering and verification capabilities but favors an international ban on placing weapons in space.[16,17] Senator Kerry believes that both military and civilian space program funding should be kept in check, arguing, "Given the Bush budget deficit, it is imperative that we balance funding for both of these programs [military and civilian space] against critical domestic needs as well, such as education and health care."[16] Prior to this statement, Senator Kerry mentioned the need for an increase in NASA's funding during a December 2003 speech at Stanford University.[18] Following the Space Shuttle Columbia tragedy, Senator Kerry underlined the importance of manned space exploration, declaring it to be "impossible to quantify the knowledge we have gained from sending men and women into space."[19]

Senator John Edwards

Senator Edwards supports the development of a missile defense system with the cooperation of U.S. allies and "countries like Russia."[17] He believes that funding for such a system should be in proportion to that of other national security needs and that the system should not be deployed without testing to the "most rigorous standards."[17] While campaigning in Iowa in December 2003, Senator Edwards stressed the need for balanced national security funding, saying:

[I support] reducing the more than $9 billion we are spending each year to build a missile defense system that so far has succeeded in shooting down only one thing-the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty. While we need to maintain deterrence and keep a strong defense, it doesn't make sense to spend nine times as much on one program that might work some day than we spend on all the other programs that do work today to protect our citizens from weapons of mass destruction.[20]

Like Senator Kerry, Senator Edwards voted for the National Missile Defense Act of 1999 and the Durbin Amendment in 2000.[14,15]

Senator Edwards has not stated explicitly that he favors an international ban on weapons in space, but he has said that the United States "should be a leader in keeping weapons out of space" and that it must work with "our friends and partners...to promote the peaceful use of technology in space, not open a new battlefield."[16,17] However, he also emphasizes the importance of the U.S. ability to develop "proper defensive counter-measures" to protect U.S. space assets.[17]

Senator Edwards agrees in principle with the idea of space exploration but questions President Bush's timing in announcing his space plans, saying:

Space exploration makes sense. I think that we saw what happened during the Kennedy administration and thereafter, how it inspired lots of generations of young people to be interested in science, math, technology, which I think is important. But the president has to be able to do two things at once. And what he's doing is diverting attention from the problems that we have here at home.[21]

Governor Howard Dean

Governor Dean is in favor of a missile defense system but has specific plans to revamp the Bush administration's current missile defense programs. Governor Dean said he would eliminate the funding to deploy the ground-based, mid-course defense (GMD) system if it is not already deployed by January 2005, and prohibit its expansion if it is deployed.[22] He cites controlling costs and instituting effective testing procedures as critical elements of any missile defense system, believing these to be the primary flaws in the Bush administration's approach.[17] Though he would continue research and development into GMD, Governor Dean favors boost phase missile defense, which in his view may be more affordable than GMD.[22] The United States will need boost phase missile defense, according to Governor Dean, "if the North Koreans really do finally develop a nuclear capacity to attack the United States or other countries."[23]

Of his potential support for an international agreement to ban weapons in space, Governor Dean said, "technological development in space will continue and we should not reduce the technological advantages that our military enjoys by prohibiting the use of space for military activities."[17] But Governor Dean's national security advisor, Ivo Daalder of the Brookings Institution, said that Governor Dean would be "reluctant" to support space-based missile defenses because of the potential for starting an arms race in space.[22]

Governor Dean favors space exploration with an emphasis on Mars missions saying, "I am a strong supporter of NASA and every government program that furthers scientific research. I don't think we should close the shuttle program but I do believe that we should aggressively begin a program to have manned flights to Mars. This of course assumes that we can change Presidents so we can have a balanced budget again."[24]

Possible Democratic Vice Presidential Candidate

General Wesley Clark

General Clark has not outlined his policy position on missile defense. On January 25, 2004, Clark told the Associated Press, "I don't know if it [missile defense] will work and I don't know if it's worth the money. What I'll do is take an objective look at it and make a decision."[25] Though he lacks a policy, Clark has been known to accuse President Bush of placing too much emphasis on missile defense, declaring that "one of the reasons we had 9/11 is because this president spent too much time worried [sic] about national missile defense and not enough time worried [sic] about the greatest threat to this country."[25] In a January 29, 2004 debate in South Carolina, Clark asserted, "When the Bush administration came to office, the Bush administration was told the greatest threat to America is Osama bin Laden, and yet almost nine months later, when the United States was struck, there was still no plan as to what to do with Osama bin Laden, but we had worked really hard with Vladmir Putin to do something about National Missile Defense, and get out of the ABM Treaty, and a lot of other things had been done. This administration did not have its priorities right."[26]

Clark supports the space program "because it has a record of producing useful 'spinoff' technologies that benefit national defense as well as useful products for ordinary consumers."[16] In a statement posted on January 24, 2004, Clark declared that he was "currently in the process of developing [his] space policy and considering the role that the space program might play in contributing to America's national security."[16] Clark did not respond to the Council for a Livable World's question regarding his views on an international treaty banning weapons in space.[17]

In a speech on January 10, 2004, Clark laid out his 20-year vision for America, in which he highlighted his ideas about future space exploration:

We'll move beyond the Space Shuttle and a few unmanned missions within the Solar System with more substantial efforts to help humanity explore the frontiers of space. We'll do it with real programs designed to most efficiently and effectively generate the science skills and technology we need to meet what I believe will be our destiny.

Imagine if in the next twenty years, we actually sent humans-not just rover robots-to Mars-which we can do if it truly advances our ambitions. Astrobiologists today believe we will, and as a result, we'll have a better understanding of our own planet and our own people.[27]

Conclusion

The candidates have staked out differing positions on missile defense and space policy with varying degrees of detail. As the national campaign begins, high profile debates and more intense media scrutiny may force the candidates to elaborate on their policies, especially missile defense and space policy, where billions of tax dollars are at stake. The budget debate in Congress may also spotlight missile defense and space as election issues. In particular, President Bush's early missile defense deployment deadline, coming so close to Election Day, has the potential to significantly affect the tenor of the campaign.


Notes:
[1] "National Policy on Ballistic Missile Defense Fact Sheet," May 20, 2003, <http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/05/20030520-15.html>.
[2] "ABM Treaty Fact Sheet," December 13, 2001, <http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2001/12/20011213-2.html>.
[3] "President Signs Defense Bill," Remarks by the President at Signing of H.R. 1588, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004, The Pentagon, Arlington, VA, November 24, 2003, <http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/11/20031124-2.html>.
[4] Wade Boese, "U.S. Missile Defense Programs at a Glance," Arms Control Today (June 2003), <http://www.armscontrol.org/act/2003_06/mdfactfile_june03.asp.>
[5] "Highlights of the FY '05 Budget Request," Center for Arms Control and Nonproliferation website, <http://64.177.207.201/static/budget/annual/fy05/>.
[6] "President Discusses National Missile Defense," Remarks by the President on National Missile Defense, Rose Garden, December 13, 2001, <http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2001/12/20011213-4.html>.
[7] Treaty Between the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on the Limitation of Anti-Ballistic Missile Systems, U.S. State Department website, <http://www.state.gov/www/global/arms/treaties/abm/abm2.html>.
[8] Randy Barrett, "Pentagon Backpedals on Schedule for Space-Based Missile Interceptors," Space News, July 7, 2003, p. 1.
[9] "Strategic Master Plan: FY04 and Beyond," Air Force Space Command, November 5, 2002.
[10] "President Bush Announces New Vision for Space Exploration," Remarks by the President on U.S. Space Policy, NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC, January 14, 2004, <http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/01/20040114-3.html>.
[11] "Bush Unveils Vision for Moon and Beyond," CNN.com, January 15, 2004, <http://www.cnn.com/2004/TECH/space/01/14/bush.space/>.
[12] "Where Do the Candidates Stand on Foreign Policy?" Peace Action website, <http://www.peace-action.org/2004/Kerry.html>.
[13] "John F. Kerry Floor Statement on Missile Defense," May 2, 2001, <http://kerry.senate.gov/bandwidth/cfm/record.cfm?id=180035>.
[14] U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 106th Congress - 1st Session, March 17, 1999, <http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=106&session=1&vote=00051>.
[15] U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 106th Congress - 2nd Session, July 13, 2000, <http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=106&session=2&vote=00178>.
[16] "Space: Candidates' Positions," Greenville News website, January 24, 2004, <http://greenvilleonline.com/news/election2004/issues_space.htm>.
[17] "Responses from Presidential Candidates to Six Critical National Security Questions," Council for a Livable World website, <http://64.177.207.201/pages/8_470.html>.
[18] "Remarks by John Kerry at Stanford University," Stanford, CA, December 8, 2003, <http://www.vote-smart.org/speech_detail.php?speech_id=M000025732&keyword=&phrase=&contain=>.
[19] Senator John Kerry, "Tribute to the Space Shuttle Columbia Astronauts," Washington, DC, February 4, 2003, <http://www.vote-smart.org/speech_detail.php?speech_id=M000014442&keyword=&phrase=&contain=>.
[20] "John Edwards on Homeland Security," On the Issues website, <http://www.issues2000.org/International/John_Edwards_Homeland_Security.htm>.
[21] Senator John Edwards, "CNN Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer," January 25, 2004, <http://www.vote-smart.org/speech_detail.php?speech_id=M000027507&keyword=&phrase=&contain=>.
[22] Marc Selinger, "Candidate Dean Would Revamp DOD Missile Defense Programs," Aerospace Daily, December 16, 2003, <http://64.177.207.201/pages/8_475.html>.
[23] Nedra Pickler, "Dean Would Limit Spending to Fix Budget," Associated Press, September 27, 2003, <http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/politics/6873912.htm.>
[24] Dr. Howard Dean, "Conversation with the Candidate Transcript," November 6, 2003, <http://www.vote-smart.org/speech_detail.php?speech_id=M000022869&keyword=&phrase=&contain=>.
[25] Holly Ramer, "Wesley Clark Says Bush Overemphasizes Missile Defense," Associated Press, January 25, 2004, <http://newslink.nandomedia.com/NandoTimes/politics/election/president/story/1130288p-7863860c.html>.
[26] "Democratic Presidential Candidates Debate Sponsored by The Young Democrats of South Carolina and Furman University - Part 1," Greenville, SC, January 29, 2004, <http://www.vote-smart.org/speech_detail.php?speech_id=M000027896&keyword=&phrase=&contain=>.
[27] General Wesley Clark, "Remarks on Twenty Year Vision for America," Manchester, NH, January 10, 2004, <http://www.vote-smart.org/speech_detail.php?speech_id=M000026933&keyword=&phrase=&contain=>.


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Author(s): Caitlin Baczuk, Rebecca Schauer
Related Resources: Missile, U.S., Weekly Story
Date Created: February 16, 2004
Date Updated: -NA-
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