16:43 17 December 02
NewScientist.com news service
The first components of the controversial US missile defence system will be operational by 2004 under plans announced by US President George Bush on Tuesday.
The construction of 10 missile interceptor sites at Fort Greeley in Alaska by 2004 has been approved, say government officials. A further 10 sites could be in place by 2005.
"We plan to begin operating these initial capabilities in 2004 and 2005, and they will include ground-based interceptors, sea-based interceptors and sensors based on land, at sea and in space," said the President in a statement.
The missile interception system is designed to combat the threat of missiles launched by countries named by the US as "rogue states", including Iraq, Iran and North Korea. The US also fears that terrorist groups might combine ballistic missiles with chemical or biological weapons payloads to attack the country.
But critics question the value of developing a defence system that would cost many billions of dollars when early tests have had only limited success. Three out of eight tests conducted so far have been unsuccessful. Full: http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99993190 --- Sent from UnionMail Service [http://mail.union.org.za]