More ominously, Russia has been quite clear in warning that our unilateral abrogation of the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty could spark a new nuclear arms race. China's government has criticized the American plans in even harsher terms. Before destabilizing the current security equilibrium, U.S. officials should be certain that they would be replacing it with a system that provides even greater security from enemy attack. Perhaps circumstances will change over the next few years so that an analysis of the criteria listed by Albright would warrant development of a missile shield, but those conditions do not exist today. For fear of being labeled weak on defense in an election year, President Clinton and Vice President Al Gore have matched Republican demagoguery with their own posturing.
Nuclear security is far too grave an issue to be subjected to such cheap political maneuvering.