Posted on 11/13/2004 6:07:18 PM PST by Jet Jaguar
WASHINGTON--The military installed its sixth and final interceptor of the year at Fort Greely on Thursday, but the ground-based, mid-course missile defense system has yet to be declared in working form.
The 55-foot interceptors at Fort Greely, 100 miles southeast of Fairbanks, are designed to shoot down a warhead launched by an enemy missile from overseas.
The Bush administration had pushed to start up the system this fall, a goal that some critics saw as political. The 2004 general election went by, though, without the sixth interceptor in place and with no declaration of "initial defensive capability," as the military calls start-up.
"The decision process with that is going to be with the leadership at Strategic Command and Northern Command," said Maj. Eric Maxon, spokesman for the Missile Defense Agency in Alaska. "We've laid the groundwork and we've got the interceptors in place at Fort Greely."
The military began installing interceptors in July. It had to fly the first one to Eielson Air Force Base because the Allen Army Airfield at Greely was being repaired to handle the large aircraft that would deliver the missiles. One other missile was diverted to Fairbanks because of smoke, Maxon said.
The system is operated and guarded by about 130 members of the National Guard's 49th Missile Defense Battalion.
"Those crews are on station and highly trained and conducting their mission and ready for operations when that decision is made," Maxon said.
Testing of how well the system actually shoots down a missile continues at other sites, including a state-owned launch site on Kodiak Island.
No interceptors will be launched from Fort Greely under current testing plans, due to the proximity of people.
Ten more interceptors will go into silos at the fort next year. Those silos have been excavated and are being prepared now, Maxon said.
Long-term budget documents from the MDA indicate another 10 will go to Fort Greely in following years. The site has enough room for 40.
In the news release announcing the sixth interceptor, the MDA included its standard description and disclaimer: "Although the system will initially have a limited capability when it becomes operational later this year, it will mark the first time the United States has a capability to defend the entire country against a limited long-range ballistic missile attack."
Critics have scoffed at that assertion, saying the system has not been tested to the degree necessary to make such a claim. Five of eight intercept attempts have connected with dummy missiles, but the critics say those were not conducted under real-world conditions. An X-band radar destined for Adak in Alaska's Aleutian Islands is not done yet, nor is a new system of satellites used for detection of enemy launches.
Military leaders insist that having something is better than nothing. Improving the system while using it is the most prudent policy, they say.
Reporter Sam Bishop can be reached at (202) 662-8721 or sbishop@newsminer.com
ps: most of us leave our rigs running during brutal temps, until we're done running around for the day. And it always brings a smile to face when I think about how we don't even lock our vehicles while they're running. Not in our little town, that is. In Fairbanks I leave her running, lock her up, and have an extra set of keys handy.
Thanks for the memories...it makes living in the Hell of the Seattle area seem not so terrible any more. I can rub my eyes here and not break off my eyebrows.
Your welcome for the memories, CWO. I sure can't imagine living in Seattle, but someone's gotta do it. I've had tourists ask me where they can find a McDonalds, or other fast food place here, and I tell them, "go straight up the Alaska highway about 200 miles and you'll find what you're looking for".
I haven't broken off any eyebrows yet, but I've learned not to touch any part of the body while outside during the brutal months.
It isn't as easy to teach a pup though. I remember when we had a batch of malamute pups, and as luck would have it, the mama gave birth during the winter. We kept them in the house as long as we could (all 9 of them), but when we finally put them in a pen outside we had a dickens of a time teaching them about tongues and metal. Do you have any idea how far a puppy's tongue can be stretched out? IYIYIYI
Speaking of dogs....sounds like some trouble outside. Time for the moose to come to the smorgasbord I've left them in the garden. Good night. chena
Take care and stay warm.
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