A central issue in Campaign 2000 was the development of a National Missile Defense system. President George W. Bush has also said he will support the development of such a system.Although a missile defense system is great in theory, in practice, it is a really bad idea. Even if we had a missile defense system that worked, it would violate treaties the United States signed in good faith that specifically prohibit such a system.The Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty of 1972 has been a large factor in our long peace with Russia. This treaty prohibits a missile defense system.If the United States backs out of this treaty, it leaves the door open for other technologically-advanced nations such as Russia and China to do what they please.Opponents of the missile defense system are not trying to disadvantage the United States. They merely want to prevent the United States from gaining an unfair advantage over other countries. The United States is one of only two nations in the world to have a standing army. Our defensive technology far surpasses any other nation. A national missile defense shield is simply not needed.Until 1989, the United States had a major enemy — the Soviet Union. Now, after the fall of the U.S.S.R., we have no big enemy. Our enemies today are much less likely than the Solviet Union to have either the ability or the desire to fire a missile at the U.S. We face more danger from home-grown terrorists than from rogue nations. Children are in more danger of being shot at school than they are of being hit by a nuclear missile.The United States should be allowed to defend itself, but the National Missile Defense system is not the way to do it. It just doesn’t make sense.editorialboard: Carrie Tett, Greg Jerrett, Katie Goldsmith, Andrea Hauser and Jocelyn Marcus