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Argument: More rogue states are producing WMD and ballistic missiles

Issue Report: European missile defense

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Peter Brookes. “The Case for European Missile Defense”. Heritage. March 14, 2008 – the ballistic missile and nuclear proliferation trend, in general, is not positive. Ten years ago, there were only six nuclear weapons states. Today there are nine. Twenty-five years ago, nine countries had ballistic missiles. Today, 27 do. Concerns about Iran’s programs will only exacerbate the situation, as countries—especially those in the Arab Middle East—seek to balance Iran’s rise. Of course, none of these arguments are likely to convince the Russians of the need for missile defenses in Eastern Europe.

Sally McNamara, Baker Spring and Peter Brookes. “Missile Defense: Debunking Arguments Against the Third Site in Eastern Europe”. Heritage Foundation. November 6, 2007 – the threat of ballistic missile attack from other quarters has grown exponentially, with 27 nations now possessing such capabilities, nearly double that of 15 years ago. North Korea completed several missile tests last summer, including the failed or aborted test of a long-range Taepo-Dong-2 missile. Hezbollah’s estimated 13,000 missiles were its weapon of choice in its war with Israel last year, which Israel had difficulty countering.[5] Less than 10 years ago, there were six nuclear weapons states; today there are nine.