How the U.S. Nuclear Defense Shield Could Backfire

The Trump administration is interested in a massive missile shield known as the "Golden Dome." If successfully constructed, it will destroy opponent's weapons well before they can hit their targets. In turn, U.S. leverage will increase in future crisis negotiations. However, today we we look at some of the political and strategic downsides of such a system. It is possible that, even if the program were free, the United States would be better off not building it.

0:00 What Is the Golden Dome?
1:38 Technological Problems with the Golden Dome
11:31 Missile Shields and Winning Arms Races
15:54 Countermeasures and No Net Benefits
28:47 Strategic Fallacies of Missile Defense
32:02 How Golden Dome Affects Crisis Bargaining
39:44 Golden Dome and Preventive War
43:26 The Risk of Accidental Nuclear War
47:43 Problems with Nuclear Negotiations
53:41 Problems with Funding

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