"Star Wars" Missile Defense

I admit, originally I thought of the "Star Wars" Missile Defense systems as being a solution to a problem that was unlikely to occur. I'm still not convinced that the NoKo missile tests are a real threat in the near term, but I'm convinced that they may be in the long term. Lots of things have changed since the start of the "Star Wars" programs were initiated.

It is important that the American people understand two aspects of the current crisis as it relates to missile defense. First, the system President Bush recently ordered advanced from its testing stage to operational status when the North Koreans began preparing the Taepodong 2 launch is extremely rudimentary because it is still being developed. The system now includes only 11 ground-based launch sites in Alaska and California capable of knocking out long-range missiles like the Taepodong 2, and four Aegis-class Navy destroyers equipped with missile defense battle management systems and Standard-3 missiles capable of hitting medium range threats.

Second, they will no doubt protest to high heaven, but "Star Wars" critics must bear the major burden of responsibility for the delays and setbacks that have prevented the missile defense system from becoming fully operational long before the present crisis with North Korea. There have been technological problems, especially in the very early stages, but those were temporary and subject to American technological prowess.

I'm hoping that the missile defense systems are up to these expectations. Between the Chinese and Russians, I don't see any efforts to rein in what appears to be a truly strange and unstable dictator. This may all be posturing and noise to get NoKo more from the present negotiations, but I'd rather not take that risk.