John Kerry: “The ban does not prevent us from deploying the most effective missile defenses possible. I will be specific. We will…”

“The ban does not prevent us from deploying the most effective missile defenses possible. I will be specific. We will soon have some 30 missile defense interceptors in silos in California and Alaska. We are going to have an additional eight extra launchers in Alaska, if we need them. If we need more interceptors, the Missile Defense Agency Director, LTG Patrick O'Reilly, who was originally appointed to that post in the administration of President Bush, told the committee: "For many different reasons," they would "never" recommend converting either ICBM silos or SLBM launchers into missile defense interceptor launchers. What we are hearing is a completely red herring argument, sort of throw it out there and say that somehow this is a restraint on missile defense. Why is it not a restraint? One reason is cost.”