Another test of the country’s missile defense system. Another failure. That makes three flops in a row and a legacy of wasted money.

What was it that President Bush said about government programs that don’t work? Oh, yeah: “The principle here is clear: Taxpayer dollars must be spent wisely or not at all.”

Missile defense doesn’t work, and hasn’t worked, even though billions of dollars have been spent and a patchwork – and obviously ineffective – system already is deployed in Alaska and California. As the multiple test failures show, the missile interceptors provide no real protection. The administration, meanwhile, has steadfastly insisted that the program continue as if it were fully operational. It’s not and may never be.

In the budget President Bush submitted to Congress for 2006, missile defense is slated to receive $8.8 billion, and estimates predict a 10-year cost of more than $50 billion.

Congress is beginning to debate the president’s budget and his supplemental request for $82 billion to fund ongoing operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Instead of targeting food stamps, Medicaid and other safety-net programs, budget hawks should consider cutting back on funds for a missile defense system that shows no signs of actually working.

The missile defense’s latest test shows that the interceptors can’t get off the ground. Neither should the request for $8.8 billion.