European and Asian opponents of the new US missile defense system are focusing on a series of "worst case" scenarios the justification for the defense system is based on. Under pressure from Congress, the intelligence community sought scenarios to bolster the case in favor of the system. The results are scenarios involving North Korean missile attacks on Alaska and Hawaii, scenarios that critics of the program call simply preposterous. President Clinton is likely to approve the system because it would bolster the chances of Vice President Gore succeeding him.--Stephen V Cole