Senator Reed's Statement on Ballistic Missile Defense System Report

"At this point in time, it is not clear what mission capability will be demonstrated prior to IDO (Initial Defensive Operations)."

Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) stated, "The Pentagon's Director of Operational Test and Evaluation report, signed by Director Thomas Christie, makes it clear that in a rush to win an ideological victory, President Bush risks prematurely deploying a missile defense system by 2004 that is technologically unproven and will drain resources from other essential priorities. Between now and September, the Administration plans on only 2 intercept tests of the Ballistic Missile Defense System. Even if both of these tests are successful, they will not show that the system is effective because they will not include realistic targets. As the Christie report states: 'Even with successful intercepts in both of these attempts, the small number of tests would limit confidence in the integrated interceptor performance.' For President Bush missile defense seems largely an article of faith. The reality is that it takes lots of robust and realistic testing to ensure such a complex system is effective. But the Administration has no plans to conduct such testing."