Scientists slam missile defence
Scientists slam missile defence
2008-04-17Newsfeed
A missile defence system being built by the United States cannot protect the country, a group of scientists have said.
A missile defence system being built by the United States cannot protect the country, a group of scientists have said.
The Union of Concerned Scientists also questioned whether the US Defence Department has misled the public and European allies about the system's capabilities.
"The (global missile defence) programme offers no prospect of defending the United States from a real-world missile attack and undermines efforts to eliminate the real nuclear threats to the United States," Lisbeth Gronlund, a senior scientist at the Union of Concerned Scientists, said at a House of Representatives oversight hearing on the programme.
It follows earlier criticism about missile defence from Gronlund's group
The panel's chairman, Democratic Republican John Tierney called the hearing.
Tierney said the testimony from the witnesses raised questions about current missile defence spending levels. He pointed to congressional projections of $213-277bn for the programme between now and 2025.
"We need to all ask ourselves, whether you're a conservative Republican or a liberal Democrat: 'Are we wisely spending the taxpayer's money here'," Tierney said.
Copyright © The Press Association 2008
