Theodore A. Postol

About the author: Theodore A. Postol, a longtime critic of missile defense, is professor of science, technology, and national security policy at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Tests carried out on elements of America's missile defense system under development have revealed basic flaws that have gone unreported. The ability of rocket-powered interceptor missiles to locate and "kill" incoming enemy missiles can be easily compromised by the use of decoys and other countermeasures. Defense officials have carefully rigged tests by using only decoys that could be easily identified, and have possibly misled the public into thinking that significant progress is being made. The United States is wasting money on a space-based missile defense system that will not work.

On June 23, 1997, a prototype of a U...