PREPARED TESTIMONY
OF DEPUTY SECRETARY OF DEFENSE PAUL D. WOLFOWITZ
THURSDAY,
JULY 19, 2001
Chairman
Stump, Representative Skelton, Members of the
Committee, I don’t have an extended opening
statement today, but allow me to make a brief
comment about events that have taken place since
last week.
As
you know, last Saturday we conducted a successful
test intercept of an intercontinental ballistic
missile over the Pacific Ocean. This successful test
is another step forward on the long road to
developing and deploying effective defenses to
protect the American people from limited ballistic
missile attacks. But it is an important step. It
underscores the point General Kadish and I made to
the Committee last week: that missile defense is no
longer a problem of invention – it is a challenge
of engineering. And it is a challenge America is up
to.
To
build on the success of this test, we will need
successive tests that push the envelope even
further, that are even more operationally realistic,
and to begin testing the many promising technologies
which were not pursued in the past, but which have
enormous potential to enhance our security.
This
inevitably means that our testing and development
program will eventually encounter the constraints
imposed by the ABM Treaty. We are seeking to build
defenses to defend the American people. The ABM
Treaty’s very purpose is to prohibit us from
developing such defenses.
If
we are to build on this weekend’s accomplishments,
we must move beyond the ABM Treaty. We are working
to do so on two parallel tracks: First, with a
robust research, development and testing program;
and second, through discussions with Russia on a new
security framework that reflects the fact that the
Cold War is over and that the U.S. and Russia are
not enemies.
To
succeed we need your help in both areas:
First,
we need Congress’s support to fully fund the
President’s budget request for further development
and testing of missile defense. The ability to
defend the American people from ballistic missile
attack is clearly within our grasp. But we cannot do
so unless the President has Congress’ support to
expand and accelerate the testing and development
program. This weekend’s test shows the potential
for success is there. Let us not fail because we did
not adequately fund the necessary testing, or
because we artificially restricted the exploration
of every possible technology.
Second,
we need Congress’ support for President Bush’s
efforts to achieve an understanding with Russia on
ballistic missile defense. The President is working
to build a new security relationship between the
U.S. and Russia whose foundation does not rest on
the prospect of the mutual annihilation of our
respective populations. He will meet with President
Putin shortly in Genoa, he has invited President
Putin to his ranch in Crawford, Texas, and has
accepted an invitation visit President Putin in
Russia. Secretary Rumsfeld and Secretary Powell are
engaged in discussions with their Russian
counterparts as well.
So
an important dialogue is underway, and we are
optimistic about the prospects for reaching an
understanding with Russia.
But
Congress can have a significant impact on the
outcome of those discussions. If Congress shows the
same resolve as the President to proceed seriously
with development and testing of defenses to protect
our people, our friends and allies, and our forces
around the world, it will significantly enhance the
prospects for a cooperative outcome.
Conversely,
Congress should not give Russia the mistaken
impression that they can somehow exercise a veto
over our development of missile defenses.
The
unintended consequence of such action could be to
rule out a cooperative solution, and leave the
President no choice but to walk away from the treaty
unilaterally – an outcome none of us surely wants.
As
we proceed with robust testing, we will work to
achieve an understanding with Russia to move beyond
the ABM Treaty. We have established a process that
will identify issues raised by our program at the
earliest possible moment.
The
Department’s ABM Compliance Review Group has been
directed to identify ABM Treaty issues within 10
working days of receiving the plans for new
development or treaty events. That process is
already underway.
The
Secretary and I will be informed of whether the
planned test bed, use of AEGIS systems in future
Integrated Flight Tests, or concurrent operation of
ABM and air defense radars in next February’s
tests are significant treaty problems (I have fact
sheets prepared by BMDO on each of these cases which
I would like to submit for the record). This process
will permit us to take them into account as early as
possible as we pursue our negotiations with Russia
on a new strategic framework. We will keep Congress
informed as the process unfolds.
But
if we agree that cooperation in setting aside the
constraints of the ABM Treaty is preferable to a
unilateral withdrawal from the ABM Treaty, then we
need Congress’ full support for missile defense
research and testing.
We
look forward to working with the Committee to build
on this weekend’s successful test, and to ensure
that we can defend the American people, our friends
and allies, and our deployed forces, from limited
ballistic missile attacks. Thank you.
