May 13, 2004 :: UCS :: Analysis
The Union of Concerned Scientists today released a report, Technical Realities, complaining that the missile defense interceptors set to be deployed this year serve no purpose, address no real threat, and are insufficiently tested.
The charge of insufficient testing is valid, but it is important to remember that one purpose of the Fort Greely and Vandenburg AFB deployment sites is to serve as a test bed. That they would be deployed during that time to offer some minimal defense only makes sense. Reports such as these must try very hard to minimize the threat from rogue states, to say nothing of the threat from Russia and China. It is true that the limited number of interceptors set to be deployed in August—nine—are far from enough to adequately defend America. On this score, the UCS is, in a sense, correct. But the response to this charge is that they only the first installment. A more robust and layered defense is necessary to truly complete the job, and the testing conducted from Alaska and Vandenburg will aid in moving along towards that goal.
Studies such as these refuse to recognize the fairly obvious fact that, even despite the system’s limitations, some defense is better than none. (Article)
» Full text of UCS report (.pdf)
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