As you listen to the debate unfold, remember these facts. The threat is different today than ten or twenty years ago. The Scud is only one descendant of 'V' weapons. Today, there are literally thousands of them across the world. We live in their shadow and they will not go away.
Missile defense is rocket science.
We are on the threshold of solving the tough issues of defending against those ballistic missiles. We still have some stiff challenges ahead of us, but we are making remarkable progress. And while we have exceptionally talented and dedicated people working the demanding technical issues, we can't be successful without your patience and support. My congratulations again to our awardees this evening, and congratulations to the military community in Fairbanks for having such wonderful neighbors.