Rocketing Costs

By CHRISTOPHER JOHN FARLEY

WOULD YOU PAY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR SOMETHING YOU don't need, don't want and won't use? If you're an American taxpayer, you may have no choice. Israel has staged a successful rocket launch with its ARROW anti-tactical missile system, a feat that will help bolster arguments that U.S. funding of the Israeli / project should continue. To strengthen Israel's security, the U.S. has spent $126 million on the Arrow and plans to pick up two-thirds of the projected $322 million in future development costs. The U.S. has no plans to purchase the system for itself, but when the rockets go into production, America may help buy some for Israel. Some Pentagon officials are seething because they see the Arrow as redundant: the U.S. has three similar anti-tactical missile systems, including an updated version of the Patriot, that could be given or sold to Israel.