A Three-Pronged Strategy to Solve the Problem of Long-Range Missile Proliferation

The threat of long-range missile proliferation has been growing since the end of World War II. Today some 28 countries possess long-range missiles and this number is expected soon to grow by one-third. Throughout the Cold War, the U.S. viewed the missile threat in an East-West context. However, beginning with the 1980's Iran-Iraq "War of the Cities" the U.S. view of the missile threat began to change. Third World rogue states such as Iran, Iraq, Libya, and North Korea gained access to long-range missiles and demonstrated a willingness to use them. The proliferation of missiles to these states added to the growing concern over the proliferation of nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons. Together, missiles and unconventional warheads created the potential of rogue states using weapons of mass destruction. In response to these particular problems (and others), the U.S. and its partners in the G-7 announced the formation of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) in 1987. The purpose of the MTCR was to prevent the proliferation of missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons.