Missile defense afficinados know that the recent test of GMD failed. In addition to a video of the launch I want to share Riki Ellison’s (Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance) impressions and thoughts on the test, failure, and – of course – the need to do more in the realm of missile defense:

Dear Members and Friends,

On a perfect sunny winter afternoon in California standing on the flat rocks of the Ronald Reagan Memorial overlooking the missile silos on the Pacific shoreline at Vandenberg Air Force Base, the Ground-Based Interceptor (GBI) engines light up with brilliance and the rocket disappears for a few seconds in the clouds of exhaust. The rocket reappears, accelerating and ripping through the clear sky with a single white vapor trail arching overhead as the low thunder sound doesn’t catch up to what you are watching.

[…]

The Ground-Based Interceptors in Vandenberg, California and Fort Greely, Alaska are our only defense against the long-range ballistic missile threat fast coming upon us. As President Obama said to our nation last week, “the greatest danger to the American people… is the threat of nuclear weapons.”

We need more than ever “True Grit” and determination for Missile Defense.

Respectfully,
Riki Ellison

In a speech in Paris, Secretary Clinton emphasized Washington’s readiness to co-operate with Russia on BMD (after similar statements by Lavrov):

We are working with our allies to ensure that NATO has the plans it needs for responding to new and evolving contingencies. We are engaged in productive discussions with our European allies about building a new missile defense architecture that will defend all of NATO territory against ballistic missile attack. And we are serious about exploring ways to cooperate with Russia to develop missile defenses that enhance the security of all of Europe, including Russia.

Missile defense, we believe, will make this continent a safer place. That safety could extend to Russia, if Russia decides to cooperate with us. It is an extraordinary opportunity for us to work together to build our mutual security.

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