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Conventional Prompt Global Strike Capability The non-nuclear missiles referred to are designed to The program under which Washington is developing its strike any spot on Earth within 60 minutes, but the main conventional weapons capacity to supplement its proponent of PGS, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of previous nuclear strategy is called Prompt Global Strike | Staff Marine General James Cartwright, boasted in early (PGS), alternatively referred to as Conventional Prompt June 2009 that, "{a]t the high end", strikes could be Global Strike (CPGS). delivered in "300 milliseconds"."" Cartwright has also said Global Security Newswire wrote on 2 April of the _ that current conventionally armed bombers are "too slow proposed START II: "Members of Russia's political elite and too intrusive" for many "global strike missions”."' are worried about what the agreement says or does no’ On 21 January, Deputy Secretary of Defense William say about US ballistic missile defense and ‘prompt globa Lynn called for putting the Department of Defense "on a strike’ systems...” In fact, the successor to START I says — permanent footing" to maintain "air dominance and the nothing about American interceptor missile or first-strike ability to strike any target on Earth at any time... The conventional attack policies, and as such says everything next air warfare priority for the Pentagon is developing a about them. That is, the new treaty will not limit or affec next-generation, deep-penetrating strike capability tha them in any manner. can overcome’ advanced air After the signing ceremony in Prague defenses...""” on 8 April, the US Department of State In a Global Security Network analysis issued a fact sheet on Prompt Global of 15 March 2010 titled "Cost to Tes Strike which states: "The New START US. Global-Strike Missile Could Reach Treaty does not contain any constraints $500 Million", Elaine Grossman writes: on current or planned U.S. conventional : . "The Obama administration has prompt global strike capability.". By way Combined with the requested $239.9 million for promp of background information and to deployment of global strike research and developmen provide a framework for current US missile defense...the across the military services in fisca military strategy, it adds: "The growth of 2011... If funding levels remain as unrivaled U.S. conventional military Prompt Global anticipated into the coming years, the capabilities has contributed to our Strike initiative is Pentagon will have spent some $2 ability to reduce the role of nuclear going to turn billion on prompt global strike by the end of fiscal 2015..." The land-based component of PGS—Minuteman intercontinental ballistic missiles with a conventional payload—will "initially boost into space like a ballistic missile, dispatch a ‘hypersonic test vehicle’ to glide and maneuver into a programmed destination, which could be updated or altered remotely during flight"."* weapons in deterring non-nuclear attacks... The Department of Defense (DoD) is currently exploring the full range of technologies and systems for a Conventional Prompt Global Strike (CPGS) capability that could provide the President more credible and technically suitable options for dealing with new and evolving threats."® Describing the constituent parts of PGS, the State Department press release also reveals: “Current efforts are examining three | More Pentagon Plans for Precision Weapons concepts: Hypersonic Technology Vehicle, Conventional On 22 March 2010, Defense News featured an article Strike Missile, and Advanced Hypersonic Weapon. These itled "US Targets Precision Arms for 21st-Century Wars", projects are managed by the Defense Advanced Research _ which included this excerpt: "To counter...air defenses, Projects Agency (DARPA), the U.S. Air Force Space and he Pentagon wants to build a host of precision weapons Missile Center, and Army Space and Missile Defense hat can hit any target from thousands of miles away. Command respectively... [The START II] warhead ceiling nown as a family of systems, these weapons could would accommodate any plans the United States might include whatever the Air Force chooses as its next develop during the life of this Treaty to deploy bomber, a new set of cruise missiles and even, someday, conventional warheads on ballistic missiles." In language ypersonic weapons developed under the Pentagon's as unequivocal as the State Department has been known Prompt Global Strike program that would give the speed to employ, the statement adds: "New START protects the —_ and range of an ICBM to a conventional warhead."” US ability to develop and deploy a CPGS capability. The An 8 April Washington Post report on PGS quoted Russian Treaty in no way prohibits the United States from Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warning: "World states building or deploying conventionally armed ballistic will hardly accept a situation in which nuclear weapons missiles..."’ disappear, but weapons that are no less destabilizing Washington into a modern era global dictator. deployment of missile defense...the Prompt Global Strike initiative is going to turn Washington into a dictator. More Pentagon Plans for Precision Weapons On 22 March 2010, Defense News featured an article itled "US Targets Precision Arms for 21st-Century Wars", which included this excerpt: "To counter...air defenses, he Pentagon wants to build a host of precision weapons hat can hit any target from thousands of miles away. nown as a family of systems, these weapons could include whatever the Air Force chooses as its next bomber, a new set of cruise missiles and even, someday, ypersonic weapons developed under the Pentagon's Prompt Global Strike program that would give the speed and range of an ICBM to a conventional warhead."” An 8 April Washington Post report on PGS quoted Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warning: “World states will hardly accept a situation in which nuclear weapons disappear, but weapons that are no less destabilizing JUNE - JULY 2010 NEXUS ° 13 Combined with the modern era global www.nexusmagazine.com