Accession Number:

ADA326672

Title:

Preventing Ballistic Missile Proliferation: Lessons from IRAQ.

Descriptive Note:

Master's thesis,

Corporate Author:

NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY CA

Personal Author(s):

• Talay, Brian J.

Report Date:

1996-12-01

Pagination or Media Count:

115.0

Abstract:

The proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles is now one of the greatest threats to the United States and its allies. Efforts to contain WMD proliferation, particularly the Missile Technology Control Regime MTCR, have had limited success and must be improved to deal with new arms proliferation challenges. This thesis examines the case of Iraq to assess the performance of the missile nonproliferation regime since 1970. By analyzing the methods used by Iraq to obtain missile systems and missile technology, this thesis assesses the ability of the international community to prevent ballistic missile proliferation. Understanding Iraqs past capabilities as well as its post-war efforts to rebuild weapons programs and procurement networks, this thesis provides suggestions for improving the regimes performance. This thesis finds that 1 prior to 1992 the MTCR failed in its attempts to prevent proliferation 2 the existence of the MTCR, while necessary to slow proliferation, is not sufficient to prevent proliferation and 3 additional enforcement is needed to counter WMD acquisition by resourceful and determined states.

Descriptors:

• *IRAQ
• *INTERNATIONAL POLITICS
• *ANTIMISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEMS
• *ARMS CONTROL
• NUCLEAR PROLIFERATION
• MILITARY HISTORY
• NATIONAL SECURITY
• THESES
• THREAT EVALUATION
• MASS DESTRUCTION WEAPONS
• MILITARY PROCUREMENT
• INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
• INTERCONTINENTAL BALLISTIC MISSILES

Subject Categories:

• Government and Political Science
• Antimissile Defense Systems

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE