Nature: Some Physicists Have Questioned the Capability of Missile Defence Systems Being Deployed in the United States. (September 19, 2004)

    The Journal Nature in one of its questions to US President George W Bush regarding support for science wrote (see N&V immediately below), "Some physicists have questioned the capability of missile defence systems being deployed in the United States. Would you increase or decrease spending on missile defence, and would you subject claims made on its behalf to independent scientific review?"

President Bush in a classic don't answer the question asked replied, "Early in my administration, I called for the examination of the full range of available technologies and basing modes for missile defences that could protect the United States, our deployed forces, and our friends and allies. Our policy is to develop and deploy, at the earliest possible date, ballistic missile defences drawing on the best technologies available. Later this year, the first components of America’s missile defence system will become operational. This will fulfil a pledge I made to the American people more than four years ago. We will develop and deploy the technologies necessary to protect our people."

To bring you up-to-date Bob Park in his September 17 What's New column writes:

MISSILE DEFENSE: YOU ARE TWICE AS SAFE AS YOU WERE LAST MONTH. A second interceptor missile has been lowered into its silo in Fort Greely, AK.  Meanwhile, the  flight test scheduled for late September has been postponed another two months.  It will then be two years since the last flight test.  It will also be after the election.  I called on General Persiflage at the Missile Defense Agency.  "Shouldn't we wait to see if the system will work?" I asked.  "It's already working," the general shrugged.  "Our goal is to keep America safe.  We put the first interceptor in its silo in July, and there hasn't been a missile attack since."  He had me there.  I still felt a little uneasy, but before I could ask another question, workmen came in carrying a huge banner.  "Where do you want us to hang this, General?"  They unfurled the banner, which read simply "MISSION ACCOMPLISHED."

While General Persiflage is one of Park's straw men he does sound an awful lot like an alter ego for George W Bush. So far Australia's Minister for Defence, Senator Robert Hill, has not commented either on the deployment of the second interceptor missile or the further postponement of flight tests.