On Monday, President Trump signed an executive order to build a major new missile defense system for the United States, a project that would have a huge price tag and likely fuel a new arms race.
Trump has dubbed the plan “the Iron Dome for America,” likening it to Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system. But Israel’s Iron Dome is designed to intercept crude, short-range rockets, and Trump envisions a system that can down the most advanced missiles in the world.
The order directs Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to submit a plan for a “next-generation missile defense shield” that can defend the US “against ballistic, hypersonic, advanced cruise missiles, and other next-generation aerial attacks from peer, near-peer, and rogue adversaries.”
The order also specifies that the system must include “space-based interceptors.” A fact sheet released by the White House said the missile shield would guarantee the US’s “second strike capability,” referring to the ability to respond to a nuclear attack with another nuclear attack.
The White House said that President Trump was fulfilling a campaign promise by signing the order. While on the campaign trail, Trump vowed to “build a great Iron Dome over our country, a dome like has never seen before, a state-of-the-art missile defense shield that will be entirely built in America.”
Antiwar.com contributor Daniel Larison said in an article on his site Eunomia that the missile defense project could fuel an arms race by “pushing other states to expand their missile forces so that they could overwhelm whatever defenses the US might create.”
“The only things that the US would get from massively expanding its missile defense systems is a lot more debt and arms races with other nuclear weapons states,” Larison added.
In 2002, the George W. Bush administration withdrew from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, a Cold War-era treaty between the US and Russia that reduced the need for nuclear proliferation by limiting each side’s ability to intercept a nuclear attack. President Trump has said he’s interested in discussing “denuclearization” with Russia and China, but so far, there’s no sign arms control talks are happening.
This probably is good. It’s defensive. It’s better than invading China or occupying Iran.
It's only necessary if you're planning on "invading or occupying other countries."
Your illogic is obvious.
Pot calling kettle black.
It's stupid. It's offensive. And it shouldn't be "either or".
You are stupid. You are offensive.
That's right, a defensive method can be defensive or offensive, but you got the rest totally wrong.
I didn't even mean "offensive" in that way but thanks for pointing that out to me. And once more, are you actually for an Iron Dome? And do you think it's either an Iron Dome or the US invades China or occupies Iran? And you're calling me stupid?
At the VERY least it's actually in the job description of the Secretary of DEFENSE and the DEFENSE Department.
That would make it 1% of times…! The remaining 99% is on the other side…!
The “Department of War” really needs to make a comeback in nomenclature.
Then, their secrets will be exposed to US public…!
Defensive systems are NOT in job descriptions. They are tools.
Were you folks ever planning on actually commenting on the article?
When you get done gatekeeping this topic, sure.
I don’t think you understand what “defense” means. If you’re not too busy planning how to spend your imagined millions in Trump-policy tax rebates, can you spare 5 seconds for us to explain it to you ?
Protecting the USA is a good idea. Crook Biden of course did the opposite, brought us to WW3, and set up an invasion of out USA. But, most of the people here smearing Trump never once uttered any concern on that.
To their defence, the people here are just against everything.
Trump is at least a return to sanity. It at least makes sense. He’s clearly trying to do what’s right.
Whether or not this is best ten or twenty years from now remains to be seen.
The people here could be correct. However, I’d argue reducing the budget as drastically as most here want might be politically impossible.
This expenditure might be the best possible use of US funds.
Trump designating the Houthis as terrorists again is my primary complaint thus far.
He can dream in waking, I guess. Reminds somewhat of Reagan's "Star Wars" plan… which never worked.
I'm also reminded of the Star Wars prequels AND sequels, which also never worked.
I do not utilize fictional movies as part of analysis.
So, just other invented fictions, then.
You remind me of the many failed people who never try anything.
I tried gardening, like Diocletian and Pu Yi. I learned History and Prehistory and wrote about it. I learned telematics, hydrography and computer maintenance, some psychology and what-not (I can’t even remember what I did in detail anymore without checking my CV: so many things!) But most importantly I tried to help building a better world with some ant-style activism for decades, including antimilitarism and alt-journalism. What did you do?
That's exactly why he wants the debt ceiling removed.
https://coinmarketcap.com/currencies/official-trump/
Trump is rich if he can sell and buy real estate.
Not just for that.
There are many possible angles which imo all relate back to the racket – So how would you explain it's not just for that.
Agreed, Agent Smith. I was just trying to be a Melodramatic Queen.
Indeed.
Wasting taxpayers funds on defense means that real times of peace will never have a chance.
Moronic Trump is feeding the racket.
The call for resistance has gone out – These are the day's that call for a global revolution.
Perhaps?… Global Evelution!…
No time like the present.
Yes, defensive measures on the USA are moronic. to a communist moron like you.
Your hero CrookBiden almost started WW3, and you never uttered a word of concern on that, go figure.
You're making far too many logical fallacies to be taken seriously.
https://russiaspivottoasia.com/russian-lawmaker-suggests-greenland-join-russia/
If implemented, with a huge price tag, the air defense system would end up similar to Israel Cotton Dome that even excess Hamas rockets can penetrate it…!
Meanwhile the Russian Federation developed impressive and deadly undersea delivery systems.
… And Russia would not use nukes preemptively as long as Oreshnik is in service… And they will develop the ICBM version of it for sure…!
If they want to play a long(er) game, the Russian Federation certainly has the astrophysics knowledge and technical acumen to develop mass drivers – space probes either carrying compact massive objects (high density “cannonballs”) or redirecting near-Earth asteroids of sub-extinction-level size, for kinetic delivery down onto the US mainland.
US “rods from God” concept, but less expensive and more efficient in that way the Russians have managed their spacefaring efforts.
The US abandoned its railguns-in-space project when the engineers realized that the required mass for the rods (which were to be made of tungsten) was too great to be carried by our rockets. Or, at least, too expensive in manufacture and cost of launching. Each rod, 20 ft long and 1 ft diameter, would weigh 10 metric tons and each would cost $230 million.
Perfection is never a design criteria for any system.
It's main purpose is to enrich his true masters.
If the health and safety of the public was truly one of their priorities they would never have pushed the fake pandemic and it's toxic jabs.
Peace through stupidity.
This article could make one both laugh and cry. No doubt Trump is serious. he wants everything bigger, better, more deadly, more gold plated etc.
We need some galactic intervention since the earthlings are incapable to stop the US and Israel from destroying earth and with it have rippling effects in space.
I see that this article did not make you offer a reasonable comment.
Nonsense through babbling is your method.
And you don't think an "iron dome" would be a monumental waste of money? Are you that much of a cultist? I suppose you were FOR the Space Force? Abraham accords? Or just any fucking thing Trump did or does?
Share prices and the profits of the arms industry are rising. Disarmament and peace talks decline.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/jan/28/trump-signs-executive-order-establish-iron-dome-am/
https://forward.com/fast-forward/691855/iron-dome-for-america-trump-executive-order/
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-839502 Trump proposes US defence modeled after Israel’s Iron Dome
https://defensescoop.com/2025/01/28/trump-iron-dome-for-america-executive-order-space-based-interceptors/
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/01/trumps-iron-dome-for-america-calls-for-space-based-interceptors/
https://www.airandspaceforces.com/trump-iron-dome-america-space-force/
https://spacenews.com/trump-orders-iron-dome-for-america-in-sweeping-missile-defense-push/
https://www.rafael-usa.com/programs/iron-dome/
https://www.rtx.com/raytheon/what-we-do/integrated-air-and-missile-defense/irondome
https://www.tipranks.com/news/rtx-is-ready-to-support-president-trumps-iron-dome-for-america
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Iron-Dome
https://www.unav.edu/web/global-affairs/detalle/-/blogs/an-assessment-on-israel-s-iron-dome-defense-system
https://www.ucsusa.org/about/news/us-iron-dome-fantasy
"The order also specifies that the system must include “space-based interceptors.”"
Trump seems ignorant of the Outer Space Treaty :
"The Outer Space Treaty was considered by the Legal Subcommittee in 1966 and agreement was reached in the General Assembly in the same year ( resolution 2222 (XXI)). The Treaty was largely based on the Declaration of Legal Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, which had been adopted by the General Assembly in its resolution 1962 (XVIII) in 1963, but added a few new provisions. The Treaty was opened for signature by the three depository Governments (the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States of America) in January 1967, and it entered into force in October 1967."
I hear that Trump is planning to declare another change of names on the map, from "Outer Space" to "Outer Space of America".
The Moon will also be declared an automatic US Territory because our astronauts planted a flag there.
Hah, yeah !
Irony being that the US flag(s) on the Moon have long since bleached white from intense solar UV.
I just read you looking foolish.
If you could ask him that, you may be surprised.
Trump proposes better defenses, and your reply is "blah blah blah ignorant".
You’re projecting your own faults onto others. Not a great strategy.
Do I need to explain to you what a “strategy” is, too ?
This shows the DOGE is meaningless…! Cut from domestic funds to build unnecessary military hardware…!
Was that supposed to be a financial analysis??? No sale.
Yes…because the one Israel uses works so well.
No, because the USA needs to defend itself.
U.S. is far behind the missile technology. Better bust out the UFOs.
Against what?
The US is considered the biggest threat to global peace and has been for a while – f.e. think about how US companies supported the rise of the Nazi's and then continued providing material aid including diesel during the second ww.
https://i0.wp.com/politicallyincorrecthumor.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/quote-ron-paul-most-threats-to-liberty-near-capitol-hill.jpg?resize=53
If Trump seriously desires to protect US cities from foreign missile attack, he will negotiate a new arms treaty including the purchase, joint development and deployment, of Russia's S-550 system and its base S-400 system throughout the US and its allies. Thoroughly tested and so far highly effective.
However, I'm not aware of any extant nor intended technology capable of shooting down ICBM and IRBM hypersonic missiles like Russia's evasive Oreshnik and its rocket propelled MIRV warhead system.
What Trump is proposing is likely a space based offensive system necessitating defense in the form of destruction of nearly all satellites in time of war. Pretty sure CIA has mined every major undersea fiber communications cable. Sure wish I'd played the game of Risk even once as a child; it just never seemed interesting to me conquering the world by force of arms. I grew up watching a war in Vietnam spilling lots of American and Vietnamese blood on TV every day, making world domination a toxic thought.
What little I've accidentally seen of combat in Ukraine is Black Mirror horror movie fare. If Russia chose to it could destroy any part of Ukraine as if by remote control; this after 8 years of fortification by NATO and the US.
I fear it will require nothing less than a genuine full on 10,000 missile assault destroying totally some hapless city before the US dominated west "gets it" with respect to present military reality. Any nation of people gathered into cities anywhere on earth is vulnerable to near total obliteration without resorting to nuclear weapons.
Missiles, drones and robots, oh my; and only Skynet can protect us now…
Then again, a fully bankrupt US won't be able to prosecute war anywhere but at home; Skynet is national bankruptcy wrapped in hubris and stupidity.
You are the unserious one, to propose that Russia would share its weaponry with foes.
There may be no signs yet, but at least they are All talking about talking. And since tis better to jaw jaw than war war, we are a teeny bit safer than we were a few weeks ago under the ignorant doddering coward, who confused strength with aloofness. As nuclear hostages we the rest of Earth's populace must demand our immediate and unconditional release. Half the things Trump spouts are bluster to begin with, and it will take a lot for any of it to manage a bit of traction.