Will We Ever Defend America?

The Clinton Administration punts on missile defense. Again.

by Rod D. Martin
August 14, 2000

Much has been said about last week's decision by the Clinton Administration to (yet again) put off deployment of a missile defense.

Perhaps the most pertinent comment is the one reprinted below:

". . . The clearest case of the failure of the present Administration to provide for the common defense is its stubborn refusal to build any anti-missile system which can protect America from a [Russian] nuclear attack.

"For three years, the Joint Chiefs of Staff have unanimously and urgently recommended the building of an anti-missile system. For at least three years, the [Russians] have been deploying their own anti-missile defense. Yet the [Administration] gagged the Joint Chiefs and refused to permit the United States to erect any defenses against a missile attack. Finally, in the face of Congressional demands for an anti-missile system, [the Secretary of Defense] reluctantly agreed. . . to make a start on a 'thin' anti-missile system [designed to] protect us on…