U.S. Has Missile Defense System In Place

Senior Defense Department officials confirm that the United States has a working missile defense system in place.

Peter C.W. Flory, assistant defense secretary for international security policy, tells the Senate's strategic forces subcommittee, "The United States today has all the pieces in place needed to intercept an incoming long-range ballistic missile."

Flory describes a "ground-based interceptors in Alaska and California; a network of ground-, sea- and space-based sensors; a command-and-control network; and, most importantly, trained servicemen and women ready to operate the system."

"The system is still aimed primarily at development and testing, but the capability does exist."

However, Flory adds, "Ballistic missile defenses are not as capable today as they will be in the future. The system in place is an initial capability."

"President Bush directed that the United States build a missile defense program to assure allies that no country can use the threat of attack on the United States as blackmail. The program dissuades potential adversaries from investing in ballistic missiles by reducing the effectiveness of such weapons."

Flory says, "The defenses deter attacks by reducing confidence in the success of any attack, and it is designed to defeat missile attacks in the event deterrence fails."