Plan to move missile defense funds fails

The Senate underscored its commitment to the pace and the need for a missile defense system Tuesday by rejecting 56-44 an amendment by Senate Armed Services ranking member Carl Levin, D-Mich., that would have shifted $515 million to buy an additional 10 interceptor missiles to other homeland security needs.

Levin proposed to redirect spending slated in the defense authorization bill from a further expansion of interceptor missile numbers to address what he said were greater threats to domestic security than the possibility of a nuclear missile attack. "Our greatest threat," Levin maintained, "is not from [enemy] missiles. The CIA intelligence reports say the United States is more likely to be attacked by non-missile means, especially biological or chemical weapons, which are cheaper to build, easier to conceal, and would be more accurate and effective."

His amendment effectively would have halted, at least temporarily, further production of the untested interceptor missiles that the Bush administration wants to put in silos in Alaska. Congress already has provided the money for 20 untested missiles, along with three test missiles.

Levin's amendment called for spreading the $515 million for interceptor missiles among several other programs, such as buying up nuclear materials from various countries around the world, developing new systems to detect the presence of explosives and radiological and chemical materials that pose threats to ports and shipping, and stationing explosive ordnance disposal teams aboard warships. Levin noted that his amendment would leave intact the $1.2 billion the administration wants next year for its ongoing missile defense program.

Republicans lined up against Levin and contended his amendment would undercut the missile defense program and force a temporary shutdown of production lines that could cost $300 million to restart.

"This would cripple the program," said Senate Appropriations Chairman Ted Stevens, R-Alaska. "Ballistic missiles are a serious threat to the U.S. and are growing in range, accuracy and numbers."

Armed Services Chairman John Warner, R-Va., cited defense intelligence reports suggesting that there is a higher risk today of a nuclear missile attack than at anytime during the Cold War. Levin's amendment, he said, "would spread uncertainty about this program. The world would say: 'A-ha, America is not serious about its missile defense program'."