Dear Members and Friends,

An Independent Review Team, initiated by the Director of the Missile Defense Agency, has completed its report on the Ground Based Missile System.

“Their report contains no mention of any fundamental flaw in the design of the system. But the panelists note the difficulty of building it and calling it “one of the most complex military systems that has ever been deployed.” \r\nBradley Graham, Washington Post 6/10/05

The summary of the report:

Missile defense has successfully demonstrated “Hit to Kill” technology.
Missile defense mission assurance needs to be the highest priority.
Missile defense’s development and deployment challenges are parallel to those challenges of building the first atomic bomb (Manhattan Project) and the first land and sea-based missile deployed systems (Minuteman & Polaris).
Missile defense’s military and industrial team has overcome enormous obstacles, in both the technology and programmatic solutions, over a short period of time to meet the Presidential Directive of initial deployment by the end of 2004.
It is important to note that regardless of the challenges and reports that missile defense faces and continues to face today, though not perfect and not fully operational, the United States has an initial defense capability rather than none. This capability alone, whether it is 5% or 95%, gives our population and communities, all over this country, some protection rather than none. This initial defense also sends a message of dissuasion and deterrence to those that have and those continuing to proliferate ballistic missiles and weapons of mass destruction with intentions to strike or threaten the United States.

“In an emergency, we are in fact in the position that we are confident that we can operate the system and employ it”
General Cartwright, Commander or the U.S. Strategic Command. (Testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee 5/11/05)