Introduction
Currently, the government of the United States plans to expand the SDI program following the imminent threat that Iran seems to pose to it. Iran is quoted to have successfully built and tested a nuclear weapon, which the United States government considers a great threat not only to it but also to other nations. It is argued that with the current technological advancements, Iran may overpower other renowned countries, including the United States, due to its nuclear weapons. Although the SDI program seems to be an effective defense mechanism against the threat of nuclear attacks, some citizens are opposed to the plan citing that it will adversely affect United States’ international relations with other nations.
This paper evaluates two articles: “My Part 1” and “My Partner’s Part 1”. “My Part 1” argues that the United States government should proceed with its plans to expand the SDI program since there is a high probability that it will protect the country from any possible future nuclear attacks and consequently enhance its national security. “My Partner’s Part 1” is totally against the SDI program, citing that it will destabilize the country’s international relations with other nations and adversely affect its national security in the long run.
Evaluation of the “My Part 1” and “My Partner’s Part 1”
The first article entitled “My Part 1,” supports the United States government on its move to expand the SDI program because the program will enhance the country’s national security by protecting its citizens from nuclear threats from nations such as Iran and the Soviet Union. The extension of the program involves the use of advanced technologies that can help the United States to easily identify and automatically destroy nuclear projectiles the moment they are launched against it and other countries.
The government’s plans to expand the SDI program is purely intended to protect the citizens from nuclear attacks. As a result, it is not in an anyway meant to cause security threats to any particular nation, as argued by China and Russia. The expansion plan is only going to enhance the United States’ national security. It should consequently not be perceived to be a plot to attack nations such as Iran, which are so engrossed in the development of nuclear weapons (Hughes, 2001).
The second article, “My Partner’s Part 1,” is against the United States government’s move to expand the SDI program as it prepares for any possible nuclear attacks; the article claims that such a move is likely to destroy the country’s international relations with other nations, such as Iran and the Soviet Union. This claim may be true given that these countries are opposed to the SDI program and are likely to remain in conflict with the United States if it carries on with its plan to expand it. However, the United States government is charged with the responsibility of ensuring that its citizens are protected against any imminent attack. The fact that Iran has chosen to continue with the development of nuclear weapons is a clear indication that the United States faces a serious security risk; for that reason, it has to protect its citizens from any looming nuclear attacks.
The second article also argues that the move of the United States government to expand the SDI program is likely to harm the country’s national security. The article explains that the government’s persistence in carrying on with the expansion of the SDI program is likely to incite other countries to develop their defensive mechanisms, which are similar to Iran’s nuclear program. This claim does not hold water given that the SDI program is just a defense mechanism and is not meant for launching an attack on any country.
Justification of “My Part 1”
The design of the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) was conceived by the then United States president, Ronald Reagan, in 1983. The main intention for bringing forth the SDI program was to establish a national defense system that could help the United States to bring an end to the threat caused by nuclear weapons. The SDI program became an important security system to the United States as it led to the development of a space-based missile defense system that offered protection to the country’s citizens from large-scale nuclear assaults from territories such as the Soviet Union and Iran (Davis, 2000).
The main reason for expanding the SDI program is to eliminate any threat that may emanate from countries that develop nuclear weapons such as Iran. This reason conforms to the United States government policy, which requires it to implement any possible strategies aimed at protecting its citizens against any external security threats (Dubric, 2003). The expansion of the SDI program will benefit people residing in the United States in addition to other countries under its protection, including Kuwait and South Korea.
The expansion of the SDI program will also enable the United States government to accomplish its goal of discouraging nuclear weapons in the nation as their manufacture and use are considered immoral actions by the country’s citizens. The most effective way that the United States government can prepare itself for the threat posed by Iran is developing similar nuclear missiles. However, nuclear weapons are very destructive, and their development is considered immoral in the country (Hughes, 2001). Consequently, the plan to expand the SDI program in preparation for any nuclear threats is the best option for the United States.
Lastly, the expansion of the SDI program is likely to make it more effective, and as a result, it will be able to successfully deter Iran from making any missile strikes. In that case, Iran’s chance of posing a threat to the United States will be undermined, a move that will make it drop its urge to developing nuclear weapons (Dubric, 2003). As a result, this will enhance the national security of the United States.
Conclusion
The United States needs the SDI program for its protection against nuclear threats posed by countries such as Iran. The SDI program is a defensive mechanism and not a system for launching the first attack on any country. In that case, the program does not pose any threats to any country, as claimed by China and Russia. The expansion of the SDI program will enable the United States government to enhance the security of its citizens as it will have the ability to automatically destroy nuclear missiles before they reach American soil. For that reason, I support the arguments brought forth in the article named “My Part 1” as it advocates for the SDI program.
References
Davis, M. W. (2000). Reagan’s real reason for SDI. Policy Review, 103(2), 47-57.
Dubric, M. (2003). The Strategic Defense Initiative: US policy and the Soviet Union. Aldershot: Ashgate.
Hughes, J. H. (2001). The ballistic missile threat: Defense and technology. The Journal of Social, Political, and Economic Studies, 26(1), 259-268.