[gusopol3]

In this regard, it is critical for Congress to recog­nize that the ABM Treaty imposed strict limits on development and testing activities, not just deploy­ment options.[5] Following U.S. withdrawal from the ABM Treaty, the easiest and earliest deployment options for those who manage missile defense pro­grams in the federal government was to push to deployment those limited areas of development and testing that were permitted by the ABM Treaty. However, the easiest and earliest deployment options were far from the most effective options. Missile defense opponents, and even some propo­nents, in Congress and the bureaucracy have con­sistently fought the rapid exploitation of more promising technologies. This is particularly the case regarding space-based interceptors for coun­tering ballistic missile attacks. For example, the Clinton Administration can­celled outright the Brilliant Pebbles space-based interceptor program in 1993, despite its promise. The Brilliant Pebbles program has yet to be revived. In 1997, President Bill Clinton used a line-item veto to cancel the Clementine II space probe.[6] This system would have demonstrated the effectiveness of Bril­liant Pebbles technology and advanced U.S. goals in space exploration. Its predecessor, the Clementine probe, was highly successful and very inexpensive for a space vehicle.[7] The Advanced Technology Kill Vehicle (ATKV) program, which was developing lightweight and small kill vehicle technology from the Brilliant Pebbles program for use in surface-based interceptors, remains dormant. The teams of technol­ogists that were advancing these more capable missile defense concepts have been disbanded and would now be difficult to reconstitute.

[Chode]

first thing the RATS did was brand SDI as "STAR-WARS" so it could be mocked and killed... almost worked too.

[snowsislander]

I think it is safe to assume that the Democrats will now kill funding for missile defense.

[goldstategop]

The Democrats do NOT believe in an effective missle defense system for our country. They will seek to kill it the first chance they get.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus