Political Quotes

“the Air Force's Airborne Laser Program, ABL, seeks to put a laser on a Boeing 747 jet in order to shoot down ballistic missiles. In January 2001 the Air Force claimed the Airborne Laser Program needed $98 million in supplemental appropriations. This amount is $55 million less than the $153 million currently requested in this supplemental bill. There have been various congressional requests to the Air Force for an explanation of the extra funding. The Air Force has not provided Congress with a comprehensive answer. According to Air Force officials quoted in the press, some of the money will be used for spares and other equipment to help reduce risk for the overall program and keep it on schedule for its 2003 missile intercept test. But this 2003 deadline is arbitrary. Moreover, various officials have expressed concern with the ABL's testing program. Last year, the Pentagon's chief tester concluded that the airborne laser program, testing program, is alarmingly short, allows for no technical problems, and "cannot all physically be accomplished in the time allotted." That is the chief tester. The GAO has stated that an airborne laser design more realistic than the current model "may not be achievable using current state-of-the-art technology." By appropriating the ABL program $55 million more than the Air Force requested, we are helping to accelerate a flawed testing program.”