| ID | 182006 |
| Title Proper | Geography and the future missions of U.S. homeland missile defense |
| Language | ENG |
| Author | Costlow, Matthew R |
| Summary / Abstract (Note) | The geography of the United States is not the sole determinant of how its leaders choose to defend the homeland, but geography is certainly the first and most permanent factor. The large, fertile, and secure U.S. homeland is bounded by friendly neighbors to the north and south, and broad oceans to the east and west, leading to the preferred post–World War II U.S. defense strategy of basing its forces as far forward as possible to provide a layered defense of the homeland while securing air- and sea-based lanes of transport.1 In short, the United States relies on the blessings of its geography—a large industrial base, inland transportation infrastructure, and secure sea-based capabilities—to project its military power around the world. With threats rising against U.S. power-projection capabilities in the homeland, mainly from cruise, ballistic, and hypersonic missiles, the question is, How should the United States respond to threats against its forward-based defense strategy? |
| `In' analytical Note | Comparative Strategy Vol. 40, No.1-6; 2021: p.159-165 |
| Journal Source | Comparative Strategy Vol: 40 No 1-6 |
| Key Words | Geography ; Future Missions ; U.S. Homeland Missile Defense |