[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 34 (Thursday, March 23, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1662-S1663]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




THE 17TH ANNIVERSARY OF PRESIDENT REAGAN'S STRATEGIC DEFENSE INITIATIVE

  Mr. THOMPSON. Mr. President, seventeen years ago today President 
Reagan first committed his administration and the country to the 
concept of a National Missile Defense. He rightfully viewed the concept 
of Mutually Assured Destruction--the prevailing strategic concept of 
the day--as dangerous to this Nation. President Reagan understood that 
the only way to protect the American people and our homeland was 
through common sense, straight talk, and a strong, credible defense, 
not threats of mutual annihilation. While President Reagan and his 
Strategic Defense Initiative were mocked by critics, he remained 
steadfast in his vision and his belief that the American people could 
achieve anything they committed themselves to doing.
  Seventeen years later the United States remains vulnerable to missile 
attack, but from newer and more likely threats, some of which we may 
not be able to deter: accidental launches, terrorist groups, and rogue 
states. The United States Intelligence Community and outside expert 
groups like the Rumsfeld Commission tell us that the threats are real 
and growing. Less than two years ago North Korea launched a three-stage 
missile over Japan, demonstrating a North Korean capability to send a 
missile with a nuclear, biological or chemical weapon to the United 
States. Meanwhile, other rogue states like Iran, Iraq, and Libya are 
developing similar capabilities.
  Despite these real dangers, the current administration has kept the 
American people vulnerable to attack by failing to vigorously pursue 
missile defense programs started by previous Republican 
administrations. It has put the fate of our country and our people in 
the hands of the 1972 ABM Treaty--a treaty signed with a country that 
no longer exists, which was written for a vastly different strategic 
environment, and which codified the concept of Mutual Assured 
Destruction.
  It is imperative that the United States aggressively pursue Ronald 
Reagan's vision of an American homeland free and safe, protected from 
intimidation, blackmail, and attack by missile-armed adversaries. We 
can start by putting greater effort and resources into programs like 
the National Missile Defense program--which has already demonstrated 
through actual tests that missile defense is technologically feasible--
a fact acknowledged privately by defense officials, and publicly by 
Secretary of Defense Bill Cohen following the most recent test when he 
stated that ``the technology is certainly proving to be on the right 
track.''
  The United States should also continue to develop other initiatives 
which will complement our ground based system and provide for a multi-
layered defense. I'm talking specifically about a sea-based system 
mounted on Navy Aegis cruisers that can be placed off an adversary's 
coast and destroy enemy missiles immediately after launch; or the 
Airborne Laser program that seeks to destroy missiles during their 
ascent; and a space-based system that can shoot down ballistic missiles 
in the outer atmosphere and vacuum of space.
  I might also take this opportunity to compliment the Center for 
Security Policy and the Heritage Foundation that made valuable 
contributions in the discussion toward these alternatives.
  The key to such a system is working with the Russians to allay their 
concerns, address their fears, and modify the ABM treaty to accommodate 
a robust, multi-layered national missile defense. We must try to 
convince the Russians that they share the threats we face--limited 
attacks or threats by rogue states--and that our missile defense plans 
in no way undercut their strategic deterrent. But ultimately, whether 
Russia is convinced or not, America must do what is necessary to 
protect itself.
  I am concerned that the Clinton administration is currently 
negotiating changes to the ABM Treaty that will not allow us to fulfill 
these plans; that they are negotiating to make limited changes to the 
treaty that will sound good in an election year but will prevent us 
from building the robust, multi-tiered missile defense we need. This 
would be unsatisfactory and irresponsible. Marginal changes to the

[[Page S1663]]

ABM Treaty will only keep America vulnerable to missile attack, mislead 
the public about their safety, and tie the hands of the next 
Administration that may choose to do what is right, not politically or 
diplomatically expedient.
  Finally, we must work with our Allies to address their concerns, 
interests, and our mutual defense obligations. We stood guard together 
during the dark days of the Cold War and eventually defeated communism. 
We must stand together again now and face the threats of the post-cold-
war era.
  Only through a sustained commitment to a national missile defense 
system--which can defend the American people from these horrible 
weapons of mass destruction--can the government fulfill its first 
responsibility of defending the United States. This is the right and 
sensible thing to do, and the American people are capable of achieving 
it. President Reagan understood that almost twenty years ago today.
  Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, on several occasions I have discussed 
missile defense programs and the importance of moving as quickly as 
possible to develop and deploy missile defense systems--both theater 
and national--to protect forces that are deployed around the world and 
our citizens here at home. Of all the programs designated as ``Major 
Defense Acquisition Programs'' by the Office of the Secretary of 
Defense, only the Airborne Laser program has distinguished itself by 
being on schedule and on budget while meeting or exceeding all of its 
technical requirements. The spectacular performance of this program is 
the standard all defense programs should aspire to.
  Our debates on defense programs usually focus on budgets, schedules, 
performance, requirements, and threats, but seldom do we pause to 
recognize success; more specifically, we hardly ever acknowledge the 
human component of success.
  The many accomplishments of the Airborne Laser program did not just 
happen by accident. Rather, the program has succeeded because of the 
human element; because of the many people who, over the course of the 
last three decades, have advanced our science and engineering to the 
point where the United States will be able to put chemical lasers on 
747 aircraft and use them to defend America, its interests, and its 
deployed forces.
  Most recently, the Airborne Laser program has succeeded because of 
the leadership of Col. Mike Booen and Dr. Paul Shennum, both of whom 
will be leaving the program in April after having driven the Airborne 
Laser program forward for the last four years. They deserve special 
recognition for their efforts.
  Colonel Booen was named Deputy Airborne Laser Program Director in the 
summer of 1996 and promoted to Director in November of that year. While 
Colonel Booen has been an energetic and tireless advocate for the 
Airborne Laser program and its people, his latest achievements are just 
the most recent in a notable career that includes early promotions, 
academic recognition as a distinguished graduate of the Air Force 
Academy, and assignments as a Defense Department Manned Space Flight 
Engineer and Deputy Chief of the Secretary of the Air Force's Staff 
Group. In recognition of his success Colonel Booen has been selected to 
become the next Director of the Air Force's System Program Office for 
the Space-Based Infrared System. It is an assignment of critical 
importance to our nation's security, and I look forward to continuing 
to work with Colonel Booen as he resuscitates that program.
  Over a distinguished career of 40 years with Boeing, Dr. Paul Shennum 
has developed a reputation as a leader who leads with energy and 
integrity, embraces change, encourages innovation, and challenges 
people to contribute more than they thought they could. Dr. Shennum is 
one of the rare program managers who can be counted on to provide 
factual answers when asked a question. He does not give evasive 
responses, however convenient they may sometimes be for his company or 
the Pentagon. His straightforward approach with the Pentagon, Congress, 
and within his industry team has been instrumental in the Airborne 
Laser's outstanding program performance. I wish him the best in his 
well-deserved retirement.
  The Booen-Shennum team has succeeded because both of these men 
understand what the word ``leadership'' means. They know it involves 
fixing on an objective, setting high, but realistic, standards, and 
leading the government and industry components of the Airborne Laser 
team effectively to that objective. They have refused to accept excuses 
for work that hasn't met their standards. They have inspired their 
colleagues to accomplish more than many thought possible. They 
appreciate effort, but expect results.
  And it is results, unparalleled in any other defense program, that 
Mike Booen and Paul Shennum have given us.
  Colonel Booen and Dr. Shennum have demonstrated how a government-
industry team should act. This program is not a team in name only, 
thanks to the constant efforts of Colonel Booen and Dr. Shennum. They 
have caused the team members, including the various defense 
contractors, industry and government employees to really work together 
to achieve a common goal.
  In their relentless pursuit of excellence, Col. Mike Booen and Dr. 
Paul Shennum have reminded us that America's defense programs will 
ultimately succeed or fail because of the people involved. I 
congratulate them and thank them for doing such a great job.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. THOMPSON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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