House panel can't agree on missile defense

In this story: Pentagon underestimated, program chief says Russia's opposition considered RELATED STORIES, SITES

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A House subcommittee could not agree Friday on the merits of a national missile defense system -- despite assurances from the program's chief that it would be effective.

"There is no consensus," said Rep. Christopher Shays, R-Connecticut, chairman of a House subcommittee on national defense.

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Shays said that while he is prepared to vote for "a very expensive system," he also said "the technology isn't there." Shays said he isn't prepared to set a spending limit for the program.

Of the three flight tests the program has undergone, two have failed, a point cited by Clinton last week when he announced that he would leave to his successor the decision on whether to proceed with deployment.

However, Air Force Lt. General Ronald Kadish, director of the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization, testified that multiple failures are commonplace in the development of new weapons systems.

"The Atlas ICBM program experienced twelve failures in its two-and-a-half year flight testing history. And the Minuteman One program suffered ten failures in a three-and-a-half year testing program," he said.

Pentagon underestimated, program chief says

Kadish, director of the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization, said his office gave Clinton technical information about the project's status and prospects made no recommendation on whether to proceed with deployment.

But in his written testimony he made clear that he believes some critics of national missile defense are underestimating the Pentagon's technical prowess.

"There is no technical reason at this point, validated by independent review teams, indicating that we could not develop an effective NMD system," Kadish said, using the acronym for the national missile defense.

Members of the committee split along party lines on the issue.

Rep. Helen Chenowith-Hage, R-Idaho, said the failures do not justify delaying deployment.

"Failures to a certain extent are always expected," she said. "Now any fourth grade student learns in his science lessons that failures are central to the scientific process. But they are overcome, just as we are overcoming many of the technical failures we are now encountering."

But Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, called the whole missile defense proposal "a wacky idea that will never work. We're engaging in discussions that can actually create destabilization on the issue of peace."

Kucinich was referring to Russia's opposition to the system on the grounds that it would violate the arms limitation treaty.

An administration official defended plans for the program.

"We have made clear to Moscow that in deploying a limited NMD system, we are responding to a new threat from long-range ballistic missiles in the hands of states that threaten international peace and stability, and we are not seeking to change the core foundation of strategic stability with Russia," said Avis Bohlen, assistant secretary of state for arms control.

The United States has said it will not discuss deeper cuts in nuclear arsenals until Russia agrees to negotiations on missile defense.

In a telephone interview, Shays said it's clear the Russians won't move on this issue until Clinton's successor take office next year. But Shays said he believes the go-ahead should have been given to construct a radar installation in Alaska for a national missile defense system.

"That would have sent a message" to the Russians that this administration is serious about missile defense, Shays said.

CNN Producer Brad Wright and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Pentagon's Ballistic Missile Defense Organization
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