This is why people don't trust the Democrats with defense

The Democrat-run Armed Services Committees in both the House and the Senate have voted to cut funding dramatically from one of the missile defense shield programs. The Airborne Laser Program is designed to shoot down incoming ballistic missiles with direct shots from a huge laser placed in a large plane. This is designed to supplement the airborne interceptors, both the long-range and short-range, to provide an "umbrella" of missile defense. These are designed to defend against Iran or North Korea in case either develops the ability to attack us with a long-range nuclear weapon.

By slashing this budget, the program will be delayed for years, while North Korea continues its ballistic weapons program and Iran continues to defy U.N. nuclear inspectors. To top it off, many Democrats still don't understand why they're not trusted on defense. It might have to do with their efforts to divert money from protection against nuclear attacks to socialized medicine. Just a guess, though.

Budget Cut Will Delay Anti-Missile Laser
Associated Press

A Boeing Co. executive on Tuesday warned that proposed budget cuts by U.S. lawmakers could delay the completion of an anti-missile aircraft by two years.

Both the Senate and House Armed Services committees have slashed the president's fiscal 2008 proposed budget request of $549 million for the airborne laser program, or ABL, that will be used to thwart enemy missiles in the sky. In July, the House Appropriations committee agreed to a smaller cut of $51 million from the program.

Boeing and its teammates Northrop Grumman Corp. and Lockheed Martin Corp. are awaiting the Senate Appropriations committee to finalize its budget by the end of the month.

Greg Hyslop, a Boeing vice president, told reporters in a conference call that the level of cuts by both committees would delay the company's ability to complete the program by at least two years.

Hyslop said in order to stay on track it will need the full funding of the president's budget request.