So therefore, the 2004 system can't be tested as a complete system with a realistic long-range target.

I do not know that anybody has officially told us that. Is that in fact correct?

General Kadish, the 2004 national missile defense system to be deployed in 2004 relies on Aegis ships off the coast of North Korea to protect Hawaii from missile attack.

I know the classified number. I will leave it at that.

the administration is trying to put a label of a deployed national missile defense system on what is really a test bed.

On the end strength issue, last year our Services indicated they needed additional end strength.

I believe that in the absence of an imminent threat, it is in our interest to have a U.N. resolution authorizing member states to take military action before initiating a preemptive attack against Iraq.

It will take place and should take place.

I want to concur in what he said about our borders.

The number one threat that we all face is the proliferation of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction.

Would you take a look at the Senate bill 6, which was introduced by Senator Daschle and others at the beginning of Congress?

General Kadish, do the Aegis ships to be deployed off the coast of North Korea as part of the Block 2004 system have the demonstrated capability to track an ICBM targeting Hawaii from North Korea with enough accuracy to prosecute an…

I am surprised that you even answered this in an unclassified setting.

I think some others who have expressed themselves on this are troubled by the exaggerated description.

These types of clauses, as far as we know, have never been used for any fielded system in history.

The Defense Department, as I indicated, sought the repeal of the 1993 prohibition on that research and development effort that could lead to the production of a low-yield nuclear weapon.

Here is my question: have you provided an assessment of the military utility of the national missile defense system to be deployed in 2004?

There was no doubt in our mind before we left that our military is by far the best-trained, best-equipped, and most capable fighting force in the world today.