Bush Orders Deployment Of Missile Defense By '04 President Bush said today his administration will begin deploying a limited system to defend the nation against ballistic missiles by 2004. As a candidate, Bush promised to build an anti-missile shield, and earlier this year he pulled out of an anti-ballistic missile treaty to advance the plan. Today, he cited the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on America as evidence that the country faces "unprecedented threats" and needs the anti-missile shield.

Let me get this straight. We're spending huge amounts of money that we don't have*, to build a system that doesn't work**, to protect us from a threat we don't face***.

* Thanks to the recession and in future years Bush's own tax cuts.
** Well, it works if the enemy shoots one missile and phones ahead of time to let us know where it's coming.
*** Terrorists don't use intercontinental ballistic missiles.