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Missile Defense

Russian military leaders have expressed concern about US plans for a national missile defense system. Will defense technology be limited by possibilities for a strategic imbalance? Is this just SDI all over again?

rshowalter - 11:58am May 10, 2001 EST (#3651 of 3654)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

From the web site of Curt Weldon, M.C.:

Leading Scientists Push Missile Defense Weldon, SAFE Foundation, Host Top Researchers http://www.house.gov/curtweldon/missiledefense.html

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Congressman Curt Weldon (R-PA), Congressman Bud Cramer (D- AL), along with a prominent group of distinguished American physicists and the S.A.F.E. Foundation (Safeguarding America For Everyone) announced that an effective missile defenses is well within the reach of America’s technological capabilities.

“Missile defense technology works! Missile defense technology has worked in the past and we will continue to improve our success as we work to build a reliable defense that protects our citizens, troops in combat and our allies around the world,” said Weldon. “The testimony of these top-notched scientists should put to rest any hesitations that skeptics have tried pin on our technological capability.”

Weldon, a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, is the leading missile defense expert in the House. In 1999 Congressman Weldon was the author of H.R. 4, legislation that made it the policy of the United States to deploy an effective missile defense system.

“Too often, we only hear from one side of the debate in the science community – the left side,” said Weldon. Now the American people can hear the truth from men who actually know the scientific progress we have made. These scientific leaders can refute – chapter and verse – the Chicken Little views of the liberal scientific community.”

The group of scientists assembled have over 196 years of experience in applied physics, rocket science and missile research.

“We know missile defense works,” said William A. Davis, who was Deputy Ballistic Missile Defense Program Manager and authored numerous books on ballistic missile defense. “The science is well-understood, the principles of physics are nothing new, and the technology it relies on has been with us since as far back as the 1970s.”

"There are emerging threats to our national security that cannot be ignored. We know that missile defense is a necessity. Now we have scientific backing that deploying a national missile defense system is technologically possible within the next few years,” noted Congressman Cramer. “These are top-notch scientists and I am encouraged by their assessment. We cannot delay the decision to deploy any longer. With the Administration's support and science on our side - we are now ready to move ahead with confidence."

The announcement comes after President Bush’s historic announcement that the U.S. will move forward to build an effective missile defense.

“Finally we have a President who is willing to address a serious threat that endangers our way of life,” noted Weldon. “The world remains a very dangerous place, and I hate to think about what will happen if we listen to the opponents who would have the public believe that we cannot attain an effective missile defense.”

rshowalter - 12:06pm May 10, 2001 EST (#3652 of 3654)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

The experts, who did not say they were physicists, were:

Raymond Askew , Director, Space Research Development, Texas A&M University

Dr. Frank Rose -- former manager at NASA-Marshall, Professor of EE, Auburn U.

C. Behr -- Missile Defense Advisor to Memebers of Congress

Quote: I'm tired of the bllsh_t coming out from the Union of Concerned Scientists.

Quote: The Union of Concerned Scientists is out of date "still using a slide rule."

Alan Sherer , Retired, Former project manager, Joint Theater Missile Defense System

"countermeasures are "science fiction." . . .

"we're thinking of a "nonsophisticated threat."

Kevin Generous, head of the S.A.F.E. Foundation (Safeguard America for Everyone)

rshowalter - 12:07pm May 10, 2001 EST (#3653 of 3654)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

Curt Weldon is an interesting man. There's much to admire in his background.

He majored in Russian studies, and was a teacher and a volunteer fireman before election to Congress.

At the news conference, he indicated that many key Russian people favor missile defense. Weldon has had contacts, as member of Congress, with Russians.

Weldon has some environmental sympathies.

He's used to standing up for himself, and hearing a variety of authoritative opinions (he's the youngest of nine children.) He's for life -- he's fathered five children. http://www.house.gov/curtweldon/about.htm

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