'Operational' missile defense undefined

Posted on: Jun. 7th, 2006 || Source: upi.com | E-mail Article | Print Article

WASHINGTON, June 6 (UPI) -- The Pentagon has still not determined the criteria the national missile defense system must meet before it can be declared "operational," a new report states.

That declaration has been pending since 2004, when the first ground-based interceptor missiles were deployed in Alaska, following U.S. President George W. Bush's 2002 decision to deploy a system with limited operational ability.

But in January 2005 -- shortly after an interceptor missile had failed to lift off when cued to its target in a test -- Pentagon spokesman Larry Di Rita said the system may never be declared operational. It would just continue to be developed and added on to.

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