Bush Is The One "Living in the Past"

CLAIM:
"I think those who oppose this ballistic missile system really don't understand the threats of the 21st century. They're living in the past. We're living in the future. We're going to do what's necessary to protect this country."
- President Bush, 8/17/04

FACT:
According to nonpartisan congressional auditors, the ballistic missile system the administration is pushing is completely unproven. Furthermore, it is set up to shoot down Cold War era Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBM's) - a threat experts long agreed since the fall of the Soviet Union was significantly smaller than that of terrorism. Nonetheless, in the months before 9/11 when the White House was receiving warnings of an imminent attack, the President opted to fully fund missile defense while simultaneously vetoing an urgent request to divert $800 million from the program into counterterrorism. Today, even as terrorism remains the top threat to America, the White House continues to fully fund missile defense, while underfunding homeland security and nuclear non-proliferation. Among other shortfalls, the President has actually proposed major cuts to the Nunn-Lugar program, which is seen as the most effective tool to prevent terrorists from acquiring nuclear material.