OPINION:
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act that has passed the House isn’t perfect, but it does contain a few great ideas. Among the most ambitious of the president’s projects is the Golden Dome, which promises to encourage peace by doing much more than eliminating the threat of nuclear strikes against North America.
As senators take up the reconciliation measure in the days ahead, they ought to reflect on the value of this proposition. “We will have the best system ever built,” President Trump explained from the Oval Office. “As you know, we helped Israel with theirs, and it was very successful. … The success rate is very close to 100%, which is incredible when you think of it. You’re shooting bullets out of the air.”
It’s unlikely that China, Russia or even Iran will be launching rockets our way anytime soon, but it has never made sense for us to bet our safety on such an assumption. This is what drove President Reagan to announce his “Star Wars” strategy to reduce our vulnerability.
The Gipper’s intentions ran ahead of capabilities in the 1980s, so a touch of showbiz was involved in the way he conducted fundamental research into the concept without a realistic prospect of full deployment.
Former Reagan aide Ken Adelman cites the 1986 summit in Reykjavik, Iceland, as the point where, after seeing Reagan wouldn’t back down on the Strategic Defense Initiative, Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev realized his country couldn’t keep pace. He threw in the towel, ending the Cold War.
Mr. Trump is finding creative ways to ensure full deployment doesn’t bankrupt us like the Soviet Union.
“Canada has called us, and they want to be a part of it. … So, as usual, we help Canada,” said Mr. Trump, intending for our northern neighbors to “pay their fair share.” That’s good news, because a layered defense will be pricey. The House approved a $25 billion down payment, but the president expects the total cost to be $175 billion.
That aligns with the Congressional Budget Office’s low estimate for a space-based interception capability. As detailed in a report last month, the final cost depends on the level of sophistication desired. Considering Mr. Trump’s deal-making skills, he will likely impose restraint on the contracts so we get the most bang for our buck.
Like the SDI that came before it, the Golden Dome is meant to deliver benefits even if it never shoots down a single projectile. Once development commences, potential adversaries must rework offensive plans to account for the likelihood that their assault would be thwarted. That’s a major deterrent to aggression.
Stroking a check for $175 billion will also sate the appetites of war hawks, which is perhaps even more important for securing the peace. The United States has poured more than $183 billion into protecting Ukraine, and it’s an open secret that defense contractors have been rallying their friends in Congress to do everything possible to perpetuate the bloody stalemate, as if the Cold War had never ended.
Because Mr. Trump still hopes to broker a settlement between Ukraine and Russia, a massive, made-in-America defense project comes at the ideal time to keep the military-industrial complex busy so it sees no need to provoke a conflict elsewhere.
During his campaign, Mr. Trump pledged to invest in America’s long-term security against missiles and drones. The Senate should make this a reality.
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