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Trump Makes Missile Defense Shield a Big Campaign Issue for 2024

Posted on Thursday, February 23, 2023
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by Ben Solis
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AMAC Exclusive – By Ben Solis

Defense

As the war in Ukraine enters its second year and other authoritarian states like China and Iran grow more aggressive on the world stage, the need for defense system upgrades – particularly in the realm of missile defense – is becoming more urgent. Yet even in the face of greater threats, President Joe Biden’s defense priorities appear increasingly bogged down by concerns about “racial justice” and “climate change.”

The devastation wrought by Russia in its unprovoked attack on Ukraine has provided more clear evidence of the importance of missile defense technology in modern warfare. Over New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, for example, Russia launched a barrage of more than 80 Iranian-made “suicide drones” on Kyiv. In what Ukrainian generals called an “unprecedented success,” every drone was shot down by the NASAM air defense systems from the United States that arrived in the country last November – the same missile defense technology that guards Washington, D.C. The NASAM batteries likely saved dozens of lives.

But while Iranian Shaheed-136 drones are largely ineffectual, other more advanced technology has devastated Ukraine. Late last month, a Russian hypersonic missile leveled a nine-story building in Dnipro, killing 46 and injuring 80. Random attacks have been commonplace throughout the war, and thousands of families have had their homes and lives destroyed by Russian attacks.

Communist China has also been at the forefront of hypersonic missile technology, alarming Western military experts. Just this week, a Russian warship armed with next-generation hypersonic missiles arrived off the coast of South Africa to conduct joint drills with the Chinese military.

President Donald Trump recognized early on the danger of what was then an emerging technology in hypersonic missiles and how U.S. adversaries would leverage the weapon to challenge U.S. power around the world. Accordingly, beginning in 2018, Trump laid the foundations for what would become the Space Force, an initiative comparable to President Ronald Reagan’s Strategic Defense Initiative.

Trump, like Reagan, recognized how catastrophic another global war in the nuclear age would be, and that the best deterrent to such an outcome was bolstering the country’s military strength, in particular its missile defense systems. President Reagan dubbed this “peace through strength” – a mantra embraced by President Trump as well. While Trump dramatically increased military funding, it resulted in less, not more conflict. Indeed, President Trump was the only American president of the 21st century not to embroil the country in any new foreign wars.

As part of his bid for the presidency in 2024, Trump has called for another doubling down on missile defense technology. Informed by what has transpired in Ukraine, Trump said in a video release that the country needs a new missile defense shield. “World War Three would be catastrophic unlike any other. It would make World War One and World War Two like tiny battles,” he said.

“We are going to work to build a state-of-the-art next-generation missile defense shield,” Trump continued, one that creates an “impenetrable dome” around the United States. Trump referenced Israel’s Iron Dome system, which was once thought an impossible technological goal, as a proof that such a system can be built. “Just as I rebuilt our military, especially our nuclear capabilities, I will build the shield to defend America from missile attack,” Trump promised.

Unfortunately, President Biden does not share Trump’s commitment to missile defense programs, and he has reversed much of the progress seen under his predecessor. This tragic story begins with Biden’s failure to fund the formation of a Space National Guard – a vital part of the nation’s missile defense system ordered under President Trump.

Biden and his Defense Department have also consistently failed to request funding for critical elements of the nation’s protective shield, including bases in Alaska, spaced-based radars, interceptor tests, and even mobile defense systems for American cities. Biden did not even provide sufficient funding for the procurement of current infrastructure where aged missiles, deployed in 2004, have been left untested and are at risk of failing during a potential attack.

Meanwhile, Biden has found space in his defense budgets for “woke” programming like mandated training for troops on “diversity, equity, and inclusion” and even climate change alarmism. The U.S. is, for example, spending billions to make military vehicles “climate friendly.” Yet every American with common sense realizes that Chinese or North Korean missiles are more likely to annihilate New York or Los Angeles than supposed rising ocean levels.

Even as the topline number for Biden’s military budgets continues to grow, the glaring misallocation of taxpayer dollars becomes more obvious. Radical left ideology, not an interest in the defense of the United States, is driving the cuts, and should be immediately corrected for the security of the country.

Ben Solis is the pen name of an international affairs journalist, historian, and researcher.

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Stephen Russell
Stephen Russell
1 year ago

Yes revive Reagen SDI with Todays Tech
(save Chinese theft of our tech to effect SDI)

anna hubert
anna hubert
1 year ago

Weak and meek can’t win or survive Biden is continuing in Obama’s foot steps

Linda
Linda
1 year ago

And what does it accomplish to have military equipment when our oil reserves have gone to China and we don’t have enough now for our country to even last through a beginning battle? When will the news reporters be talking about our refilling those reserves?

John Bass
John Bass
1 year ago

Two words…Trump, DeSantis.

George Washington's Admirer
George Washington's Admirer
1 year ago

Seems like long ago in the days of Trump; being ‘prepared’ was all so simple. Two weeks of groceries, bottled water, some Band-Aides, necessary prescription drugs, gas for two weeks, news paper subscriptions, pet cat with camouflaged fur; (including long dark claws), two battery operated lamps for emergency purposes, and a radio plus chess game. Game-Changer: with Biden & Company + World War III looming over our heads; let’s start with a root-cellar, a year’s supply of food and dry goods, water storage; plus Aqua Tabs, Guard Geese, Scotties As Guard Dogs, surveillance cameras, cell phones that work no matter what, Neighborhood Watch Group, and an endless list of supplies; (plus, dig a moat around your property with crocodiles aplenty!) And, this is No Croc! After seeing a Biden and Company typical emergency response to one of the most dangerous chemical accidents in American History; ask yourself: “What would the Biden & Company response be to five major cities coast to coast without electricity; with little or no food supply, and a minimum of medical aid available be like?” Bombs Without Brains is an Apocalypse! God Bless & Protect The United States of America!

tika
tika
1 year ago

left’s only ideas with no ability to DO anything. it’s the reason marxism always fails.

HocasPocas
HocasPocas
1 year ago

It’s plain to see where biden’s heart is and it’s definitely not with America or its citizens. This country has been sold with it’s citizens own money

Marc Ziegler
Marc Ziegler
1 year ago

It is time for “Star Wars” defense shield, and it is again time for Trump!

johnh
johnh
1 year ago

When Trump took office in 2016, he asked Generals what they needed & they told him they were out of ammo & I believe that he replenished this shortage. What is Biden doing to replace our military supplies and our oil reserves?????

johnh
johnh
1 year ago

Trump formed the new SPACE FORCE when he was POTUS & my question or assumption is that this program would be in charge of our defense system

GTPatriot
GTPatriot
1 year ago

missle defense system ? Thats what 50 year old NORAD was supposed to be. If the Chi-Coms
can send a ballon throught Alaske to the lower 48 without detection by NORAD, which happened ?
NORAD needs to be abolished. the NORAD command needs to have their butts grilled for days
by Congress about how ( and why) this collosal inepitude occurred. Reagan proposed an impentrable dome and we did nothing.
By now, a fly crossing from Canada ( or anywhere) into the US should be detected. NORAD is just Another waste of quadrabillions by the Pentagon.

A row of supercomputers running simulations of quantum cryptography algorithms to test their efficiency and effectiveness
President Joe Biden, son Hunter Biden and sister Valerie Biden walk across the South Lawn of The White House on July 28, 2024 in Washington, DC. President Biden is returning from a weekend trip to Camp David. (Photo by Michael A. McCoy/Getty Images)
President-elect Donald Trump shakes hands with Dana White during the UFC 309 event at Madison Square Garden on November 16, 2024 in New York City.

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