Patriot's Second Chance at Glory

In Gulf War I, initial claims for the Patriot missiles used against Scuds were later discredited by critics and in part retracted by the Pentagon itself. So, is the new Patriot working now, and are the claims believable?

The U.S. Central Command says that all 12 of the Iraqi missiles launched against Kuwait and American bases during the opening days of Gulf War II were intercepted. A lot more is at stake here than the defense of U.S. and allied troops against Iraq. This has been the first combat test of an approach to missile interception that the Bush administration is pushing as a major component in its plans for strategic missile defense.

Solid performance by the new Patriot should ensure further government funding and also quiet some critics. Moreover, a combat-validated Patriot will certainly be in high demand, particularly from countries feeling increasingly threatened--like Israel, Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea.