The Grimmest Day This Nation Has Ever Seen

April 2, 2003

“If the world’s most destructive weapons were launched at the United States, either by accident or with malevolent intent, today there is still nothing we can do to stop them. We can’t stop one. It would be the grimmest day this nation has ever seen. Were we able to stop only one of those missiles, the result would hardly be less tragic. But the number of lives saved could easily be measured in the hundreds of thousands. Given the stakes, we have no choice but to move forward and eliminate this glaring vulnerability as rapidly as possible.” – Representative Duncan Hunter (R-CA), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee

Members, Supporters, and Friends:

More than two dozen nations in the world currently posses weapons of mass destruction and have the capabilities to deliver them ballistically. We currently have no system in place to stop a ballistic missile attack carrying weapons of mass destruction.

It is absolutely necessary that the United States have a missile defense system to protect against long-range ballistic missile attacks as soon as possible.

To protect our way of life, as well as the stability of our nation’s economy, it is important to continue moving forward to create a missile defense system.

In Operation Iraqi Freedom, Missile Defense has already played a very important role. The success rates of the Patriot missiles proves that missile defense technology works and save lives. Since the beginning of the war, Patriot missiles have been vital in saving the lives of innocent civilians, US troops, and allies.

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