NYT/Reuters: GAO Auditors Fault Missile Defense Plans

[DeepModem Mom]

Auditors Fault Missile Defense Plans
By REUTERS
Published: June 1, 2006

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States has spent about $91 billion since the mid-1980s to defend against enemy ballistic missiles, but it has no clear criteria for deciding to use the system and its operational costs remain unclear, the Government Accountability Office said on Thursday.

The missile defense system, which the Bush administration had hoped to have ready by 2004, is designed to help protect the United States against missiles that could carry nuclear, chemical or germ warheads.

The GAO, the non-partisan, investigative arm of Congress, urged the Pentagon to draw up standards that each component and the overall ballistic missile defense system must meet before they can be used, just as other major weapons programs do.

It also recommended that the Department of Defense set up a new structure to identify all the costs of operating the missile defense system, some of which are now being funded with research money, and report them to Congress.

Underscoring the cost and significance of the program to U.S. national defense, GAO suggested that lawmakers pass legislation requiring the Pentagon to actually act on its recommendations....

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/news/news-arms-usa-missiles.html

[flyingfysh]

1. The missile system is working perfectly!

It is doing very well at its goal of getting lots of money to military contractors. And it can do this without ever being used.

[FtWayneBlue]

2. Even though the missile defense systems have failed all tests,

they continue to be funded. The GAO is wondering why.
Can you say "military-industrial-polecat political complex?"

[ShockediSay]

3. One big boondoggle for government contractors

w/ heavy handed lobbyists.

Who cares if it wouldn't be half as effective as an umbrella in a hurricane? It moves bags of money to our congressional crooks and back.

[Up2Late]

4. This is such a money pit, good to see the GAO investigating though...

...not that it will do any good, they won't listen.

[The_Casual_Observer]

5. Next to Iraq this is the biggest fucking waste in the history of the USA

Every god damn person who has drawn a paycheck from this criminal enterprise should be thrown in jail.
EVERY single pocket protector shit for brains who ever filled out a timecard on a star wars account number should be forced to pay it back to the general fund with interest.