The threat to US national security from mobile ballistic missiles is at least as great today as at any time in history to include the heights of the Cold War. Proliferation of missile technology and associated weapons of mass destruction already jeopardize America's ability to project power to any corner of the globe. The 1991 Persian Gulf War opened our eyes to the significant potential of this threat. Our decision makers realized that if just one of the missiles launched against Israel had been armed with a weapon of mass destruction (WMD), the outcome of that conflict may have been far different. In response, the US defense establishment spent billions of dollars to research and field greatly improved precision munitions; more elaborate surveillance systems; and perhaps most importantly, more persistent reconnaissance platforms. But has this reaction in the years since the Gulf War been adequate? Has the United states prepared for proper integration of these individual examples of advanced technology? This study offers the following six recommendations: 1. Develop those capabilities that allow persistent surveillance and reconnaissance coupled with the ability to discriminate between potential targets before conducting precision strike operations. 2. Augment the concept of deterrence with that of preemption in joint military planning and doctrine. 3. Develop a focused, counterforce-minded, joint community responsible for hunting and destroying ground-mobile ballistic missile launchers. It is vital that this team include elements of the national intelligence community to ensure information stovepipes are broken down. 4. Create a formal joint school and specific identity for those involved in the defense against mobile missiles. 5. Implement the RAND mobile ballistic missile counterforce concept. 6. Conduct regular formal training, exercises, and evaluations for the units specifically responsible for the battle against ground-mobile ballistic missiles
