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FALCON: US-based missiles to have global reach: Allies to become less important as new generation of weapons enables America to strike anywhere from its own territory (Julian Borger, July 1, 2003, The Guardian)

The Pentagon is planning a new generation of weapons, including huge hypersonic drones and bombs dropped from space, that will allow the US to strike its enemies at lightning speed from its own territory.

Over the next 25 years, the new technology would free the US from dependence on forward bases and the cooperation of regional allies, part of the drive towards self-sufficiency spurred by the difficulties of gaining international cooperation for the invasion of Iraq.

The new weapons are being developed under a programme codenamed Falcon (Force Application and Launch from the Continental US).

Self-reliance is, of course, a traditional American virtue. Posted by Orrin Judd at July 5, 2003 11:26 AM