And if part of the administration's defense plan against rogue states includes boost phase intercept -- being able to shoot down offensive missiles very early in their flight -- the system would incidentally also defend Russia.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Center For Security Policy

The test, in which an Aegis ballistic missile cruiser shot down a target fired from Hawaii, was the first exo-atmospheric kinetic intercept of a ballistic missile in the ascent phase of flight, and the third intercept from an Aegis warship.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Sea change in missile defense

Deploying a missile defense architecture that can intercept a missile early in flight (during the ascent phase) would render rogue missiles ineffective, thereby undermining the rationale to use them.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Old threat with a new face

Specifically, this would mean adapting the Navy's AEGIS fleet air defense system as quickly as possible to permit it to intercept long-range missiles, especially in the boost or ascent phase where geography permits (as in the case, for example, of North Korea and perhaps Iraq or Iran).

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Critics' Study Makes Case for 'Layered' Missile Defense