America made headlines over the weekend when it was announced that we were trying to renegotiate the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty. We have offered to build Russia a new missile tracking station in exchange for allowing us to build an anti-missile system. Russian diplomats are currently rejecting our proposal, fearful of the consequences. Even if Russia rejects our overtures in relation to the treaty, we should press ahead with plans for a national missile defense system.

The differences between now and when Reagan introduced us to the idea of Strategic Defense Initiative are enormous. No longer is there a Soviet Union with thousands of warheads pointed our direction. No longer is Western Europe threatened by numerically superior forces, in which our only counter was to declare that we reserved the right to deploy nuclear weapons in the event of a non-nuclear attack.

But the risks are greater now. While the Soviet Union may have had thousand of nuclear weapons, they were under the control of an authoritarian regime that kept a tight grip on the launch codes.

Now they have social anarchy and a political system that brings back fond memories of Al Capone. When Russian President Boris Yeltsin finally succumbs, who is to say which person will take his place?

Besides, back in the days of Reagan there were fewer nuclear-armed nations. Weapons of mass destruction were limited to our very close allies and those who managed to steal our secrets, like Israel.

Now we have politically volatile nations pursuing weapons programs while millions starve. Given that irrational pattern of action, who can say what their next decision will be?

No, it is better to be prepared for any eventuality than to hide under a rock and hope some nation doesn’t step on us. That is why we must pursue a system that will protect us and our way of life. For the first time since the nuclear genie was unleashed back in 1945, we can defend ourselves.

As I said, things are different. Now we have the technology. Far from the days of costly overruns and failed tests, our government is trying to create a cost effective defense system that works. There are two systems up for consideration.

The first is made by TRW, which uses a converted Boeing 747. Armed with a gigantic laser and carrying enough fuel for multiple firings, the TRW system is intended for deployment in regional areas where our allies are threatened.

This system would permit us to maintain our defense obligations without spending billions on permanent installations across the globe.

The TRW system is partially completed. The laser has been fired in ground tests, and the system has been fully designed. But until the laser is actually mounted in a 747 and tied into a tracking system it is still unproven. Nevertheless, the engineering has been done and the promise is there.

The second system is being developed by Raytheon, and is vastly different. Instead of using a laser to incinerate the ICBM in the lower atmosphere, Raytheon engineers designed a rocket-boosted interceptor that physically slams into the missile.

With high impact speeds the interceptor doesn’t need to be big: the Raytheon Kill Vehicle is 55 inches long and weighs 120 pounds. The most important issue is that it works.

In the early evening on Sunday, October 3, a Raytheon Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicle successfully intercepted the backbone of our nuclear deterrent, a Minuteman ICBM.

Launched from the Marshall Islands, the Raytheon prototype rode a booster rocket into the upper atmosphere where it avoided a decoy and engaged the missile at a closure speed of more than 16,000 mph. The explosion was visible on the ground, 140 miles below the point of impact (CNN, Oct. 3 ).

Although no price tag has been attached to either system, the Raytheon seems to be getting the nod for our national missile defense system.

It is much less complex than the mobile laser system, and because it is stationary, and it is fairly easy to maintain.

Because it has been tested and relies on proven technology, there is hope that it can be deployed as early as 2003.

The military has already drawn up plans for our continental defense. Interceptor sites will be spread across the country, with each site being home to a tracking station and one hundred Raytheon Kill Vehicles.

Initial sites will be positioned according to threat relevance, though Clinton Administration officials say that they hope every state will eventually have its own site.

Alaska will be the first site of installation, as its geographical location allows the interceptors to cover our western seaboard.

That site will defend against threats from North Korea or any other country in the region. After that, more sites will be positioned along our northern border as an insurance against future instability in Russia.

The treaty we are trying to renegotiate with Russia will ensure the life of our nation.

We have already dangled the carrot in front of them, and they have ignored it. If they don’t want to cooperate, we can go it alone. Once the system is up, their threats won’t matter.

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Aaron Woell is a senior in political science from Bolingbrook, Ill.