“House of Dynamite” Shows That Missile Defense Is a Dangerous Fantasy
Key Takeaways
- President Trump announced the 'Golden Dome,' a proposed national ballistic and cruise missile defense system, estimated to cost $175 billion.
- Critics argue the system is based on unrealistic claims, citing historical missile defense tests that have failed nearly 50% of the time.
- The article suggests that pursuing a 'leak proof' defense system is a 'fool's errand' that ignores decades of failed attempts since Reagan's 'Star Wars' initiative.
- There is a significant risk that the Golden Dome could accelerate the global nuclear arms race as adversaries develop countermeasures.
- The author advocates for redirecting the massive proposed spending toward urgent national needs rather than an unworkable defense fantasy that primarily benefits contractors.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans for the 'Golden Dome,' a national ballistic and cruise missile defense system, asserting a leak-proof system can be built in three years for $175 billion by upgrading current technology. The article heavily critiques this proposal, comparing the administration's confidence to the fictional failures depicted in Kathryn Bigelow’s film, “House of Dynamite,” where missile defense interceptors repeatedly fail. Experts point out that missile defense tests have historically failed nearly half the time, and crucial tests involving multiple, decoy-hidden warheads have never been conducted, suggesting the promised flawlessness is unattainable. Since President Reagan’s 1983 'Star Wars' speech, the goal of a perfect system has been deemed physically impossible by many scientists. Pursuing the 'Golden Dome' is warned to be a costly endeavor that could destabilize global security by encouraging adversaries to build more advanced nuclear delivery vehicles to counter the perceived defense. Ultimately, the author argues that the only beneficiaries will be defense contractors, and the funds should instead be directed toward urgent national needs like climate change or resilient defense improvements.
