WASHINGTON,
D.C. – U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) today called on President
Bush to accept scientific data and heed the call of our NATO and European
allies and drop plans to deploy a National Missile Defense System (NMD).
Schakowsky, speaking at a Capitol Hill rally organized by Peace Action,
Physicians for Social Responsibility, and Women’s Action for New Direction,
urged President Bush to leave star wars to the experts in Hollywood.
“NMD
is a program that is destined for failure on so many levels and I stand
here today with all of you in strong opposition to its deployment.
It is important that we all continue our work to help others understand
that this plan is opposed by our allies and nations across the globe.
NMD could very well lead to a new arms race, making the U.S. a clear target
for nations building up their offensive arsenals in response to a renewed
perception of threat presented by the U.S,” Schakowsky said.
Schakowsky
pointed to experts who have expressed concerns about NMD’s unproven technology,
including Philip Coyle, who served as the Director of Operational Test
and Evaluation for NMD. He said, “ Deployment means the fielding
of an operational system with some military utility which is effective
under realistic combat conditions, against realistic threats and countermeasures
when operated by military personnel at all times of day or night and in
all weather. Such a capability is yet to be shown practicable for
NMD.”
“Since
the Reagan Administration, we have been urged by right wing wishful thinkers
to deploy a system for which workable technology does not exist.
Now many years, and many billions of dollars later, the Bush Administration
is still pursuing this irresponsible, unnecessary, and unrealistic policy,”
Schakowsky said.
“I
fear that moving forward with NMD will reverse the diplomatic progress
made over the last decade and deployment will actually undermine our security
by igniting Cold War II,” she added.
At
the event, a petition signed by more than 50,000 concerned citizens and
a letter signed by 600 non-governmental organizations from around the world
opposing NMD were delivered to members of Congress. The petition
reads in part, “The National Missile Defense System is a prescription
for disaster. It is costly, technologically unproven and would violate
the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty. Rather than addressing an existing
threat, it will increase tensions with other nuclear powers.”
She
concluded, “I think we all need to urge President Bush to spend a little
less time watching Star Wars in the White House movie theater and a little
more time studying the scientific facts and political realities involved
with moving forward on NMD. As the President embarks on a whirlwind tour
to convince our neighbors of the wisdom behind Star Wars, we all need to
renew our efforts to deploy the truth.” |