This paper attempts to unravel the forces influencing and shaping the decision-making process associated with the proposed National Missile Defense (NMD) system. This has primarily involved analysis of information from the media, Congress, and various US government departments and agencies, such as the Pentagon, the State Department and the CIA.

There are many actors, organisations and events that have shaped the development of NMD. These carry varying degrees of influence but collectively form an intricate web within which the decision-making has evolved, and continues to evolve. The influence one allocates each of these is purely subjective. The issue is far from black and white and the debate is far from rational since it has been heavily politicised from the outset.

This paper explores the key actors and events that have shaped and pushed the NMD debate.