Star Wars to cost $238 billion

A congressional budget office report has indicated that the Missile Defence programme could cost the US a total of $238 billion by 2025. The main components were:

Ground based interceptors
Between $26 billion and $74 billion by 2015

Missile interceptors launched from ships
Between $50 billion and $64 billion by 2015

Space-based laser system
Between $82 billion and $100 billion by 2025

In response three senior Democrats in the Senate have criticised this expenditure. They were Tom Daschle, the majority leader; Kent Conrad, Chairman of the Budget Committee; and Carl Levin, Chairman of the Armed Services Committee. In a joint statement they said:

"If the administration decides to pursue such a costly program, it could draw resources away from programs to counter other, more likely and more immediate threats we know we face: terrorism, attacks with anthrax or other biological and chemical agents.