NYT/Chron: Bush cites need for missile defense

[Eugene]

(New York Times via Houston Chronicle)

July 8, 2006, 1:02AM
Bush cites need for missile defense
He says nation's system would have had a 'reasonable chance'
of shooting down N. Korea's

By DAVID E. SANGER
New York Times
CHICAGO - President Bush said on Friday that he believed the nation's nascent missile
defense system would have had a "reasonable chance" of shooting down a long-range
missile launched by North Korea had it come close to the United States, and he said
he was determined to use the United Nations to set "some red lines" for future behavior
by the North Koreans.

Bush said the launching of a prototype long-range missile that tumbled into the Sea
of Japan showed why missile defenses were needed.

However, he acknowledged that the capabilities of the unproven missile defense system
based in Alaska and California were "modest," and he said it was "hard for me to give
you a probability of success."

<snip>

Although defensive sensors and missiles, while not fully tested, are available for use
in an emergency, Pentagon officials have said there was little reason to think they
would have been used this week.

<snip>

Full article: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/world/4032287.html

[Lerkfish]

1. they wont tell you the tested success rate of the "missile defense" system

because it resembles Bush's approval rate at the moment.