Union of Concerned Scientists – 2004-05-15 14:52:51

http://www.ucsaction.org/action/index.asp?step=2&item=18437

(May 14, 2004) — Next week the US Senate will hold important votes on funding and testing requirements for the Bush administration’s unworkable but soon-to-be-deployed national missile defense system.

Since its inception, the missile defense system has failed to overcome fundamental technical issues and has not been tested under realistic conditions.

Given the failures of the system and the current national security situation, the administration’s record-setting $10 billion request for the system is clearly unreasonable.

At this crucial time, please urge your senators to cut funds for missile defense and require realistic testing before it is deployed.

A Suggested Letter

Dear Senator,

I am writing to urge you to cut funds for, and require realistic testing of, the proposed missile defense system when you consider the Defense Authorization bill. The Senate should require that the single largest program in the defense budget be operationally tested under realistic conditions before it is deployed.

The administration is requesting a record $10 billion for this system and is poised to deploy missile defense by the fall of this year. Nevertheless, the planned system has yet to undergo operationally realistic testing and, more importantly, has inherent technical challenges that make it unable to provide an effective defense of the United States against attacks by long-range ballistic missiles.

The Union of Concerned Scientists recently released a new study, “Technical Realities: An Analysis of the 2004 Deployment of a U.S. National Missile Defense System,” that concludes that the system would be ineffective against a real attack.

With many other pressing security needs and budget priorities, Congress must take this crucial opportunity to insist that missile defense undergo operationally realistic testing before it is deployed. I look forward to hearing from you on this important issue.

Please feel free to personalize this message, your voice counts.