An Iranian Tondar missile was test-launched in central Iran last year. The West remains highly concerned about the Islamic Republic’s nuclear ambitions. Ali Shayegan/Fars News/Reuters/FileHow NATO-Russia Talks On Missile Defense Could Halt – Or Launch – A New Arms Race -- Christian Science Monitor
Some security experts say the most urgent quest of our time is convincing Moscow to allow the US to defend the West with a missile defense shield.
Today's dialogue about missile defense can be traced to a simple idea expressed by Ronald Reagan in his famous "star wars" speech 27 years ago.
"What if free people could live secure in the knowledge that their security did not rest upon the threat of instant US retaliation to deter a Soviet attack; that we could intercept and destroy strategic ballistic missiles before they reached our own soil or that of our allies?" he asked.
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MILITARY AND INTELLIGENCE NEWS BRIEFS
China Military Buildup Could 'Upend' Asian Security, says US Official -- Voice of America
Pakistan watchdog says nuclear weapons are safe -- Reuters
Russian Fleet To Focus On Keeping Sea Lanes Open For Oil Shipments -- Eurasia Review
U.S. Concerned Mexican Cartels Could Acquire Russian Missiles -- FOX News
MoD 'wasting £6 billion a year' -- The Telegraph
‘Stuxnet virus set back Iran’s nuclear program by 2 years' -- Jerusalem Post
Senate to push ahead on US-Russia nuclear treaty -- Yahoo News/AP
U.S. Air Force blocks NYT and Guardian over WikiLeaks -- Reuters
USMC Invents RoboCargo -- Strategy Page
First Landing Photos: Secret X-37B Robot Space Plane Lands in Calif. -- Space.com
DARPA Works to Perfect Self-Forging, High-Velocity 'Spears' -- Space.com
DoD-Funded 'Project Squid Skin' Seeks To Build Ocean-Inspired Camouflage Out Of Metamaterials -- Popular Science
Snipers brave tough competition at Fort Bragg -- Fay Observer
Small unit dominance: The strategic importance of tactical reform -- Armed Forces Journal
US Army 'to issue every soldier with a smartphone' -- The Register
New showdown: House plans vote on military gay ban -- Yahoo News/AP
Marine general suggests repeal of 'don't ask' could result in casualties -- Washington Post
Army Doc: Deployment Orders Illegal Without Pres. Obama's Birth Records -- The Denver Channel
American Red Cross and Pitney Bowes Launch Holiday Mail for Heroes to Send One Million Cards To Service Members -- American Red Cross
Army fumbles away chance to end Navy's streak -- Stars And Stripes