Sunday, July 29, 2007

Do we have a workable missile defense system?

Our announced intention to build a missile defense system in Eastern Europe has worsened our relations with Russia. The media has been silent on this issue for a while, but when it was the story du jour there was never a mention that I could find which questioned the reliability of our current missile defense system deployed in Alaska and California. The system has failed in half of the tests performed on it; it does not have a satellite tracking system, a trusted radar network nor a working command and control system. Yet, we feel confident that we can build a new system in Eastern Europe by 2011. Another dream of our leaders! But, it's a dream that, like most of their dreams, will likely end in catastrophe.

I'm indebted to Victoria Samson of the Center for Defense Information for this insight.

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