Political Quotes

“Last week the Department of Defense conducted its most recent flight test of our National Missile Defense system. A great deal has been said and written about this test in the last few days--much of it erroneous--and I think it is important that we draw the correct conclusions about what this test does and does not mean. The test conducted last week was one of a series of 18 scheduled flight tests of the National Missile Defense system, and only the second to actually attempt to intercept a strategic ballistic missile by colliding with it in space. The first test this past October was primarily a test of the vehicle that actually hits the target missile. Last week's test was significantly more complicated and involved additional, newly developed elements of the National Missile Defense system, such as the ground-based radar and the Battle Management Command, Control and Communications system. In fact, a senior Defense Department official told reporters before the test that the battle management system is: "the most difficult and sophisticated part of this entire program." The latest test began with the launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.”