當我就職以來，我曾經承諾要調整美國國家安全戰略和防禦能力，以應對21世紀的威脅。今天，我很高興地宣佈，我們將採取另一項重大舉措，即部署導彈防禦系統以應對威脅和保護美國、我們的友邦以及盟國。這些初步的防禦系統源自我們的研究和發展項目，基於我們建設中的試驗場。雖然能力並不強大，但它們將加強美國的國家安全，而且將成為一個起點，為將來進一步改進與提高防禦能力奠定基礎。美國將根據威脅的變化，進一步推動研究和發展導彈防禦技術。

    自冷戰之後世界局勢發生了重大的變化，2001年9月11日發生的事件更是説明我們國家面臨著空前的威脅。為了更好地保護我們的國家抵禦今天和明天的威脅，我的政府已經制定了一套新的國家安全戰略，出臺了新的輔助性戰略，以使我們的國家更加安全和對抗大規模殺傷性武器。在我執政期間，我已清楚地表明，美國將採取一切必要措施保護民眾免遭可能是各種威脅中最嚴重的威脅——擁有大規模殺傷性武器和運載工具的敵對國家或恐怖組織所帶來的災難性破壞。

    建立導彈防禦系統在這種努力中將起到至關重要的作用。美國已經跨出了1972年《反彈道導彈》條約所反映出的“冷戰”威懾理論。同時，我們還同俄羅斯建立了積極的雙邊關係，這包括在反恐以及其他雙方共同關心的領域的合作。我們對威懾的概唸有了新的認識，認為導彈防禦系統能夠加強我們對那些試圖用導彈襲擊我們的壞人的威懾。我們退出《反彈道導彈》條約，使得我們能夠充分地研究和試驗導彈防禦技術和部署導彈防禦系統，保護我們的領土和城市。

    我已經要求國防部長開始初步構建導彈防禦能力，我們計劃在2004年和2005年使用這種能力，它們將包括陸基和海基攔截導彈，另外還有“愛國者三號”系統以及部署在陸地、海洋和太空的感測器。

    由於21世紀的威脅還危及到我們在世界各地的友邦和盟國，因此我們共同合作對它們提供防禦是十分必要的。國防部研究和部署的導彈防禦系統不僅能夠保護美國和美國的軍隊，還將能夠保護我們的盟國。美國還將以鼓舞其他國家積極參與的方式實施導彈防禦項目。作為我們構建初步導彈防禦能力的一部分內容，我們將邀請我們的盟國發揮重大的作用，美國為此將尋求英國和丹麥改善其領土上的預警雷達系統。

    21世紀的新的戰略威脅要求我們換一種思考方式，它們還要求我們必須行動起來。部署導彈防禦系統是我們調整防禦和威懾政策以及增強應對新威脅能力的眾多努力之一。保護美國人民免遭新的威脅是作為總司令的我的最優先考慮，也是我的政府的最優先考慮。

    （中國日報網站孫玉慶譯，以下是布希聲明的英文原文）

    When I came to office, I made a commitment to transform America's national security strategy and defense capabilities to meet the threats of the 21st century. Today, I am pleased to announce that we will take another important step in countering these threats by beginning to field missile defense capabilities to protect the United States, as well as our friends and allies. These initial capabilities emerge from our research and development program and build on the test bed that we have been constructing. While modest, these capabilities will add to America's security and serve as a starting point for improved and expanded capabilities later, as further progress is made in researching and developing missile defense technologies and in light of changes in the threat.

    September 11, 2001 underscored that our Nation faces unprecedented threats, in a world that has changed greatly since the Cold War. To better protect our country against the threats of today and tomorrow, my Administration has developed a new national security strategy, and new supporting strategies for making our homeland more secure and for combating weapons of mass destruction. Throughout my Administration, I have made clear that the United States will take every necessary measure to protect our citizens against what is perhaps the gravest danger of all: the catastrophic harm that may result from hostile states or terrorist groups armed with weapons of mass destruction and the means to deliver them.

    Missile defenses have an important role to play in this effort. The United States has moved beyond the doctrine of Cold War deterrence reflected in the 1972 ABM Treaty. At the same time we have established a positive relationship with Russia that includes partnership in counterterrorism and in other key areas of mutual concern. We have adopted a new concept of deterrence that recognizes that missile defenses will add to our ability to deter those who may contemplate attacking us with missiles. Our withdrawal from the ABM Treaty has made it possible to develop and test the full range of missile defense technologies, and to deploy defenses capable of protecting our territory and our cities.

    I have directed the Secretary of Defense to proceed with fielding an initial set of missile defense capabilities. We plan to begin operating these initial capabilities in 2004 and 2005, and they will include ground-based interceptors, sea-based interceptors, additional Patriot (PAC-3) units, and sensors based on land, at sea, and in space.

    Because the threats of the 21st century also endanger our friends and allies around the world, it is essential that we work together to defend against them. The Defense Department will develop and deploy missile defenses capable of protecting not only the United States and our deployed forces, but also our friends and allies. The United States will also structure our missile defense program in a manner that encourages industrial participation by other nations. Demonstrating the important role played by our friends and allies, as part of our initial missile defense capabilities, the United States will seek agreement from the United Kingdom and Denmark to upgrade early-warning radars on their territory.

    The new strategic challenges of the 21st century require us to think differently, but they also require us to act. The deployment of missile defenses is an essential element of our broader efforts to transform our defense and deterrence policies and capabilities to meet the new threats we face. Defending the American people against these new threats is my highest priority as Commander-in-Chief, and the highest priority of my Administration.

    中國日報網 2002年12月18日