John Tierney: “I join a number of my colleagues here this evening to discuss the administration's policy on national missile defense. I…”

“I join a number of my colleagues here this evening to discuss the administration's policy on national missile defense. I put up on the board here one of the comics that was recently in a newspaper showing Secretary Powell with members of NATO and essentially asking Secretary Powell if they really expect him to buy that, and that is, of course, a used car which stands symbolically, in this instance, for the national missile defense program being discussed and being put forth by this administration at this time. Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues to discuss that policy and specifically the administration's apparent attempt to move swiftly to deploy that system even before tests show that it is feasible. There are apparent plans to proceed beyond research and development, though no proper consideration has been given to many critical factors. We have yet to really assess all threats against the United States, whether they be from another state or a nonstate. The alleged purpose of this limited national missile defense or the early stages of the Bush administration plan is supposedly to protect us against rogue nations or against accidental or unintended launches.”