As every day's headlines bring new reports of the deadly weapons programs of terrorist-sponsoring states (notably, Iraq, North Korea and Iran), it must be assumed that such a hand-me-down, sea-launched missile could be used to deliver a weapon of mass destruction to our shores.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Serious about defending America

The coastal areas and Alaska and Hawaii would likely remain virtually undefended, however, particularly against sea-launched ballistic missile attack.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Center for Security Policy | Christopher-Perry Join The Debate On Missile Defense: Will The House Defend Clinton��s Program �� Or Defend America?

Last year, Iran described a ship-launched test of its Shihab-3 missile in the Caspian Sea as "successful" in spite of the fact that like an EMP, the missile detonated in mid-launch.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: An urgent memo to the next government