Just how defensible is the U.S.?

That will be the subject on Wednesday, when The Heritage Foundation presents "33 Minutes: Protecting America in the New Missile Age." The hour-long documentary will be shown at 6:30 p.m. at the Community Campus Theatre, 1020 Fox Acres Road in Hailey. Admission is free.

The title plays off the idea that a missile launched from anywhere in the world can hit America in 33 minutes or less.

The film purports that a ballistic missile attack remains the largest threat to America's national security.

James Carafano, former assistant professor at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, N.Y, and a visiting professor at the National Defense University and George-town University, will field questions following the film.

Carafano has written several books, including "Mismanaging Mayhem: How Washington Responds to Crisis," and "GI Ingenuity: Improvi-sation, Technology and Winning World War II." He is co-author of the textbook "Homeland Security" and "Winning the Long War: Lessons from the Cold War for Defeating Terrorism and Preserving Freedom."

He also has testified before Congress and provided commentary for newscasts on ABC, CBS, NBC, PBS and NPR.

"This is a unique opportunity to have someone of this caliber come to Idaho," said Idaho Rep. Janice McGeachin, of Idaho Falls.

"He is one of the most highly respected policy experts on national security in Washington, D.C."

RSVP: Sheila McBroom, 726-4175 or samcbroom1@aol.com.