January 3, 2005 :: Washington Times :: Analysis
James T. Hackett writes in today’s Washington Times noting that budget cuts should be applied to the area of missile defense only if necessary, and then only very carefully. Hackett’s piece comes a few days after reports that a proposed budget would include 1 billion cut from missile defense in the coming year, and 800 billion in subsequent years. Hackett notes that cuts may be necessary, but warns that “the trick is to cut fat while avoiding high-priority programs.” Specifically, this means cutting the “ill conceived” Kinetic Energy Interceptor (KEI), which is impractical for its strict need to be in the right place at the right time, namely “very close to hostile missiles on foreign soil.” Cutting this program will free funds for the more pressing deployment already begun, that of the ground based interceptors to be placed in Alaska and Hawaii.
One might add to this that other, still more effective, interceptors should also be pursued, but the KEI should certainly stands to be the first to go. (Article)
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