US Abandoning Missile Defense?

via ArmsControlWonk, we see this interesting tidbit, from last October:

WASHINGTON — After spending years and billions of dollars to develop and deploy ground-based missile interceptors, the Bush administration appears to be reconsidering its leading approach to defending the U.S. homeland against enemy ICBMs, a key congressional committee said last week (see GSN, Oct. 4).

...“After many years of investment in this midcourse interceptor, MDA has now essentially decided that the first generation GBI [ground-based interceptors] will also be its last generation GBI. This approach would fail to capitalize on the years of previous investment and technology development in a decreasing budgetary environment,” it said in a lengthy critique.

Boy, it sounds like congress isn't happy with this idea. Still, given all the problems Missile Defense has had, and the budget problems the US is having right now, maybe the Pentagon just wants to cut its losses. So who is so upset with this act of sanity?

The language was drafted by the committee’s defense subcommittee chaired by Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska).

Jesus Christ! It's fucking Stevens AGAIN. ANWR Stevens. Bridges to nowhere Stevens. Letting Oil executives lie to Congress Stevens. This creep is everywhere.