April 28, 2004 :: Inside Defense :: News
At a breakfast sponsored by the National Defense University Foundation yesterday, Republican Senator Jon Kyl, of Arizona, warned that Democrats plan to put the brakes on the development of missile defense in upcoming budget battles on the FY-2005 national defense authorization bill and the defense appropriations bill, according to a report in Inside Missile Defense.
Kyl said the Democrats’ opposition to missile defense, grounded in the belief that appropriations should go to either missile defense or counterterrorism - but not both, presents a “false dichotomy.”
“I suspect the Democrats are trying to get to the right of the president for the war on terror, but they will try to take money from missile defense not adequately defended by Republicans or the president,” Kyl remarked. “But you can have both.”
He also noted the importance of a “layered” defense, allowing missiles to be shot down during boost, midcourse, and terminal phases, and a “greater focus” on the role of a space component of missile defense.
Michigan Senate Democrat Carl Levin, ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, is reported to be leading the opposition to missile defense spending in hopes to derail $500 million for missile interceptors. Citing a General Accouting Office report, Levin said the program suffers from “testing shortfalls,” and alleged violations of acquisition laws.
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