[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 38, Number 51 (Monday, December 23, 2002)]
[Pages 2172-2173]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Statement Announcing a National Missile Defense Initiative

December 17, 2002

    When I came to office, I made a commitment to transform America's 
national security strategy and defense capabilities to meet the threats 
of the 21st century. Today I am pleased to announce that we will take 
another important step in countering these threats by beginning to field 
missile defense capabilities to protect the United States as well as our 
friends and allies. These initial capabilities emerge from our research 
and development program and build on the test bed that we have been 
constructing. While modest, these capabilities will add to America's 
security and serve as a starting point for improved and expanded 
capabilities later, as further progress is made in researching and 
developing missile defense technologies and in light of changes in the 
threat.
    September 11, 2001, underscored that our Nation faces unprecedented 
threats, in a world that has changed greatly since the cold war. To 
better protect our country against the threats of today and tomorrow, my 
administration has developed a new national security strategy and new 
supporting strategies for making our homeland more secure and for 
combating weapons of mass destruction. Throughout my administration, I 
have made clear that the United States will take every necessary measure 
to protect our citizens against what is perhaps the gravest danger of 
all: the catastrophic harm that may result from hostile states or 
terrorist groups armed with weapons of mass destruction and the means to 
deliver them.

[[Page 2173]]

    Missile defenses have an important role to play in this effort. The 
United States has moved beyond the doctrine of cold war deterrence 
reflected in the 1972 ABM Treaty. At the same time, we have established 
a positive relationship with Russia that includes partnership in 
counterterrorism and in other key areas of mutual concern. We have 
adopted a new concept of deterrence that recognizes that missile 
defenses will add to our ability to deter those who may contemplate 
attacking us with missiles. Our withdrawal from the ABM Treaty has made 
it possible to develop and test the full range of missile defense 
technologies and to deploy defenses capable of protecting our territory 
and our cities.
    I have directed the Secretary of Defense to proceed with fielding an 
initial set of missile defense capabilities. We plan to begin operating 
these initial capabilities in 2004 and 2005, and they will include 
ground-based interceptors, sea-based interceptors, additional Patriot 
(PAC-3) units, and sensors based on land, at sea, and in space.
    Because the threats of the 21st century also endanger our friends 
and allies around the world, it is essential that we work together to 
defend against them. The Defense Department will develop and deploy 
missile defenses capable of protecting not only the United States and 
our deployed forces but also our friends and allies. The United States 
will also structure our missile defense program in a manner that 
encourages industrial participation by other nations. Demonstrating the 
important role played by our friends and allies, as part of our initial 
missile defense capabilities, the United States will seek agreement from 
the United Kingdom and Denmark to upgrade early-warning radars on their 
territory.
    The new strategic challenges of the 21st century require us to think 
differently, but they also require us to act. The deployment of missile 
defenses is an essential element of our broader efforts to transform our 
defense and deterrence policies and capabilities to meet the new threats 
we face. Defending the American people against these new threats is my 
highest priority as Commander in Chief and the highest priority of my 
administration.