The multibillion-dollar U.S. ballistic missile shield due to
start operating by Sept. 30 appears incapable of shooting down
any incoming warheads, an independent scientists' group said. A
technical analysis found "no basis for believing the system will
have any capability to defend against a real attack," the Union
of Concerned Scientists said in a 76-page report titled
"Technical Realities." The Pentagon's Missile Defense Agency
rejected the report. "It will provide a defense against
incoming missiles for the first time in this country's
history," said Richard Lehner, an agency spokesman. BOEING CO.
is assembling the shield, which would use the interceptors to
launch "kill vehicles" meant to pulverize targets in the
midcourse of their flight paths, outside the Earth's
atmosphere. Using infrared sensors, the vehicles would search
the chill of space for the warheads. So far, the interceptors
have scored hits five times in eight highly controlled tests.
(Reuters 10:00 AM ET 05/13/2004)

Mo
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Irrational beliefs ultimately lead to irrational acts.
-- Larry Dighera,