United States Secretary of Defense

“ Consistent with the President’s Interim National Security Strategic Guidance, the classified NDS sets out how the Department of Defense will contribute to advancing and safeguarding vital U.S. national interests—protecting the American people, expanding America’s prosperity, and realizing and defending our democratic values. ”

“ Selection.— The Secretary shall select not more than 10 acquisition or sustainment programs of the Department of Defense to participate in the pilot program under subsection (a) , of which— (1) not fewer than one program shall be related to nuclear weapons; (2) not fewer than one program shall be related to nuclear command, control, and communications; (3) not fewer than one program shall be related to continuity of government; (4) not fewer than one program shall be related to ballistic missile defense; (5) not fewer than one program shall be related to other command and control systems ”

“ It's another sign that, around the world, people are taking President Bush seriously and understand that the United States, under President Bush will move forward with the development an the deployment of a national missile defense. ”

“ The United States is committed to moving forward to protect itself and to protect other nations from accidental or rogue missile launches from nations that would not comply with international norms. So the President is committed to protecting the country. It's unclear exactly when the tests will lead to a bumping into the ABM treaty. But the question was about whether there is an artificial deadline imposed this November. There is no such artificial deadline. There will be continued efforts to develop a missile defense system and to continue with the research to protect the United States. ”

“ And I know that all the Chiefs that are represented here, as well as Secretary Gates, are constantly thinking about what we need to do to make sure that people who are in uniform for the United States are getting the kinds of support that they need and that their families are getting the support that they need. ”

“ A plan to increase conventional precision strike weapon stockpiles in the United States European Command's areas of responsibility, which shall include necessary increases in the quantities of such stockpiles that the Secretary of Defense determines will enhance deterrence and warfighting capability of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization forces. ”

“ The President has announced a new framework for how to think about protecting the United States in the post Cold War era. And that involves a missile defense to protect against a launch from a rogue state, not from Russia, because the President -- as he's told President Putin, Russia is not the enemy. But the real cause of concern, which requires a missile defense for the country, in the President's opinion, is the possibility of a launch by a rogue state, which does not share the United States' ideals. Q Right. What I'm trying to get at is what happened today in the meeting. ”