Lawmakers Cut Missile Defense Funds
November 6, 2007 :: AP :: News
On November 6, U.S. appropriators meeting from the House and Senate made a number of changes to the missile defense budget, for a total reduction of some $185 million dollars. The Air-Borne Laser was cut by $35 million, and the entire plan for studies for a space test bed was completely zeroed-out. The changes also included cutting $85 million requested by President Bush to build a facility to house ten Ground Based Interceptors in Poland, however the money designated for the X-band radar facility in the Czech Republic and the ten interceptors themselves was left intact. The bill still must be approved by both bodies of Congress, and Democrats have indicated they might restore the money should Poland's government agree to house the missiles and if the entire system undergoes extensive testing.
Summary of funding reductions and changes:
- Reduces funding for the European Site program by $85 million.
- Reduces funding for Airborne Laser (ABL) by $35 million.
- Zeroes out the Conceptual Studies of a Space Test Bed (STB).
- Reduces overall Missile Defense budget by $185 million.
- Fully funds Theater High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD).
- Provides an additional $80 million for test and training range upgrades and supportand ground-based missile defense enhancements.
- Provides an additional $75 million for the Aegis program for the Ballistic Signal Processor, Standard Missiles, Ship installations and upgrades, and an asymmetric defense initiative.
- Adds $75 million for Arrow co-production, the Upper-tier program, and Short Range Ballistic Missile Defense. (Israeli programs)
- Provides an additional $120 million for the Kinetic Energy Interceptor (KEI) program.
(Article, Link)
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President Bush Speech on Missile Defense at National Defense University
October 23, 2007 :: The White House :: News
On October 23, President George Bush visited the National Defense University. His speech covered both the war on terror and ballistic missile defense. The president highlighted his administration's successes in deploying a missile defense system.
The first step we took was to withdraw from the ABM Treaty...The second step we took was to make missile defense operational, while continuing our research and development efforts. Instead of spending decades trying to develop a perfect shield, we decided to begin deploying missile defense capabilities as soon as the technology was proven ready -- and then build on that foundation by adding new capabilities as they matured... The third step we took was to reach out to the world and involve other nations in the missile defense effort. Since 2001, we've worked closely with countries such as Israel, and Italy, and Germany, and Japan, and the Netherlands, and Britain, and others on missile defense... As a result of this collaboration, missile defense has gone from an American innovation to a truly international effort to help defend free nations against the true threats of the 21st century.
He also praised the new systems by citing their performance during North Korea's missile tests in July, 2006 when Pyongyang tested missiles the intelligence community believes are capable of reaching the United States, noting that:
Had these tests taken place just a few years earlier, they would have underscored America's vulnerability to a ballistic missile attack. Instead, because of the decisions we took in 2001, and because of the hard work of people in this room, our military had in place a capability to track the North Korean vehicle and engage it if it threatened our country. So the test North Korea intended to showcase its power became a demonstration that the pursuit of ballistic missiles will ultimately be fruitless— because America and our allies are building and deploying the means to defend against this threat.
President Bush continued by stressing that the next task is to defend Europe and the U.S. from a missile attack from the greater Middle East. "Our intelligence community assesses that, with continued foreign assistance, Iran could develop an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of reaching the United States and all of Europe before 2015. If it chooses to do so, and the international community does not take steps to prevent it, it is possible Iran could have this capability. And we need to take it seriously." The President has proposed that the U.S. deploy ten missile interceptors in Poland and an X-Band radar facility in the Czech Republic to provide a limited defense from a small scale missile attack from Iran. He also voiced support for involving other defenses in Romania, Bulgaria and Greece to protect the vulnerable parts of Europe from a shorter range missile attack. President Bush unequivocally repeated that the missile defense planned for Europe is not intended to diminish Russia's strategic nuclear deterrent. On the contrary, the U.S. wishes to engage and cooperate with Russia in deploying and maintaining a strong missile defense system.
The President concluded by articulating the clear strategic benefit of deploying a missile defense system.
A terrorist regime that can strike America or our allies with a ballistic missile is likely to see this power as giving them free rein for acts of aggression and intimidation in their own neighborhoods. But with missile defenses in place, the calculus of deterrence changes in our favor. If this same terrorist regime does not have confidence their missile attack would be successful, it is less likely to engage in acts of aggression in the first place. We would also have more options for dealing with their aggression if deterrence fails...Missile defense also strengthens our counter-proliferation efforts...By deploying effective defenses, we reduce incentives to build ballistic missiles--because rogue regimes are less likely to invest in weapons that cannot threaten free nations...Missile defense also helps us dissuade nations from developing nuclear weapons. Through our missile defense partnerships with nations in Asia and Europe and the Middle East, we can help friends and allies defend against missile attack. These defenses will build their confidence. And these defenses will make it less likely that they will feel the need to respond to the nuclear ambitions of Iran and North Korea by developing nuclear weapons of their own.
Full text of the NDU remarks: (More »»»)
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Economist: Missile Defense in Europe
October 18, 2007 :: The Economist :: Analysis
The Economist published an analysis the U.S. plan to deploy ten Ground Based Interceptors in Poland and an X-band radar facility in the Czech Republic. While Poland and the Czech Republic are historically more pro-American than other European countries, the United States has faced difficulty in winning public support for the plan. Instead of offering sweeteners to Poland to accept a deal that angers neighboring Russia, "the diplomatic notes requesting the bases even came with prepared replies attached." The highhanded tone was also used in the Czech Republic, were possible public health risks associated with the radar were not directly addressed. The Economist concludes that:
Better diplomacy could ease worries in Poland and the Czech Republic. But two questions remain. One is whether missile defences, hugely profitable to contractors, will work in reality. The other is why Russia is making such a fuss. Both geography and arithmetic support the American argument that the system is meant to counter a handful of missiles that might one day be fired from Iran, rather than the Kremlin's colossal nuclear arsenal, which can be launched from land, sea and air.
(Article, Link)
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Obering on European Missile Defense
October 8, 2007 :: Arms Control Today :: Analysis
Lieutenant General Henry Obering, head of the Missile Defense Agency, discussed the importance of deploying a comprehensive missile defense system in the October edition of Arms Control Today. Obering argues that the U.S. must field a comprehensive missile defense system to prepare against potential long-range missile attacks from rogue states such as North Korea and Iran, but also to change their calculations for acquiring offensive missiles, making those expenditures less attractive.
With ballistic missiles and missile technologies widely available on the global market, we expect an acceleration of ballistic missile and nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons proliferation... A major factor in this proliferation is the value countries place on these weapons, precisely because historically there has been no defense against them. Without a defense against these weapons, they will continue to be valuable as a means to coerce or intimidate the United States and our allies and friends around the world.
With a fully operational missile defense system in place, countries could not depend on using weapons of mass destruction or missile technology to threaten or blackmail the U.S. Additionally, the fact that countries are utilizing increasingly better protections of their missile stockpiles and launch sites, such as air defenses and underground installations, offensive or preemptive strikes against become less likely to succeed.
Obering stresses that an important component of a future defenses involve a current plan by the U.S. to house ten ground based interceptors in Poland and an X-band radar facility in the Czech Republic. A missile defense system in Europe, however limited, would protect the U.S. and all European countries from long-range missile attacks. Other supplements could be added to this structure to defend more susceptible parts of Europe from short-range missile attacks from Iran. The missile defense plan for Europe not only would protect the U.S. and its European allies, but would not diminish Russia's strategic nuclear deterrent, as "10 ground-based interceptors, would be no match for Russia's strategic offensive missile force, which consists of hundreds of missiles and thousands of warheads." (Article, Link)
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Poland Firm on Support for Missile Defense
September 12, 2007 :: Kommersant :: News
U.S. and Polish diplomats believe that a final agreement concerning the placement of Ground Based Interceptors in Poland will be finalized by the end of the year. The questions remaining to be answered are the future base's territorial status, and who will pay for construction of the facilities. On September 8, Kommersant quoted Polish Foreign Ministry spokesman Robert Shanyavski as saying that, "The timeframe is by no means the most important issue. Our strategic goal is an alliance with the United States, so we can afford not to hurry." U.S. Congressman Trent Franks was also cited, as saying that missile defense elements in Poland and the Czech Republic will go ahead, even if a Democrat becomes president in 2008. (Article, Link)
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NATO Secretary General Criticizes Russia's Stance on Third Site
September 6, 2007 :: News
NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer criticized Russia's stance on the U.S. missile defense to place an X-band radar system in the Czech Republic and ten Ground Based Interceptors in Poland. "Let me speak openly. Russia's sharp criticism of U.S. plans attached a counterproductive and useless coloring to the NATO-Russia dialogue... Russia's warnings addressed to our Czech and Polish allies are inappropriate in today's Europe."
The Secretary General did find Russia's counter-proposal, suggesting the joint use of Azeri radar base, heartening. "I would not judge the specific advantages of this proposal but I think it point out to three nuances. First, Russia recognized the existence of potential rocket menace; second, Russia seeks for joint solutions; third, pragmatic compromise on missile defense shield can be found," Scheffer said. (Article, Link)
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Merkel Open to Missile Shield Due to Iran
July 18, 2007 :: News
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she did not oppose U.S. plans for a missile defense system in Europe to counter a possible missile attack from Iran. "I am not against Mr Putin but also not against the idea," Merkel said at a semi-annual news conference in response to a question about the U.S. shield plan. "I have always said that one cannot say there's no threat coming from Iran." While the U.S. plan, which would place ten Ground Based Interceptors in Poland and an X-band radar facility in the Czech Republic, has angered Russia, Chancellor Merkel thought Russian President Vladimir Putin's latest counterproposals were an encouraging sign of possible reconciliation. "Thanks to the Russian proposals we no longer talk about whether we have to have a missile shield, but how can we do it together," she said. Chancellor Merkel also stressed that any plan must cover all NATO and European countries: "We in Europe will have to think again about whether we need to fully cover Europe. Southern Europe won't be covered and this will have to be discussed in NATO and in the NATO-Russia Council." (Article, Link)
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Polish President Says System "A Foregone Conclusion"
July 18, 2007 :: News
Speaking at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California during a visit to see American missile defense interceptors in place, Polish President Lech Kaczynski told reporters that "the matter of the [placement of U.S. interceptors in Poland] is largely a foregone conclusion." "There will be the shield because for Poland it's a very good thing," Kaczynski said. The President's comments come while the U.S. and Poland are technically still engaged in negotiations over the interceptors. The President's comments prompted criticism from Polish lawmakers. "Saying the matter is a foregone conclusion is shocking," said Jolanta Szymanek-Deresz, a Polish member of parliament. "It means the next stage of the negotiations will only be pretending." Many Poles had hoped that during the negotiating process, the U.S. could make concessions such as giving Poland Patriot missile defenses. The U.S. wants to place ten Ground Based Interceptors in Poland as part of a new missile defense system in Europe to defend against a missile attack from Iran. (Article, Link)
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McNamara on Dodd Amendment
July 13, 2007 :: The Heritage Foundation :: Analysis
Sally McNamara of the Heritage Foundation recently criticized an amendment by Senator Christopher Dodd to cut $225 million from building a missile defense system in Poland and the Czech Republic. The amendment ignores the pressing strategic need for the system, McNamara suggests, as well as our broader interests in European security and the U.S.'s relationship with Poland and the Czech Republic.
The emerging threat of a ballistic missile attack from a rouge state or terrorist organization is a danger to Europe and the U.S. alike. North Korea's Taepo-Dong 2 missiles and Iran's Shahab 3 ballistic missiles in particular, could threaten the security of Europe. Accordingly, "ten long-range, ground-based missile defense interceptors in Poland and a mid-course radar in the Czech Republic will strengthen transatlantic security and counter the evolving... ballistic missile threat. The Dodd amendment, however, will delay the proposed construction date of 2008 and the operational target date of 2012."
In addition to the military significance of the system, the placement of the interceptors and radar in Poland and the Czech Republic respectively would be a symbol of both transatlantic solidarity and a special relationship between those countries and the U.S.
For Warsaw and Prague, this would mark a milestone in their integration into the transatlantic security community. They would be providing a significant contribution to NATO and making a powerful statement in support of the alliance's principle of mutual defense. Hosting missile defense facilities would also offer Poland and the Czech Republic a special defense relationship with the United States. The project entails genuine cooperation between Washington and new, solid allies who have expressed an interest in building more enduring alliances with the United States.
The success of the Dodd amendment however would not only weaken Polish and Czech confidence in the U.S.'s commitment to their security, but would embolden Russia to meddle in European affairs. McNamara concludes, "Congress must display resolve and leadership by providing adequate funding to take this step toward solidifying the transatlantic security alliance." (Article, Link)
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Russia Threatens Missile Deployment in Kaliningrad
July 6, 2007
On July 4, First Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov warned that Russia could deploy medium-range missiles in the Kaliningrad oblast in Europe if the United States turns down Russia's proposals on anti-missile defense in Europe. Russia has opposed a current U.S. plan to place ten Ground Based Interceptors in Poland and an X-Band radar facility in the Czech Republic. Russia claims that the plan is devised to blunt Russia's influence in the region and diminish its strategic nuclear deterrent. As a possible compromise, Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed the U.S. use a share a pre-existing radar facility in Azerbaijan and an additional facility in Southern Russia. Putin also suggested the system should exist within the Russia-NATO Council, with centers in Moscow and Brussels. The U.S. has thus far welcomed the proposal as a possible complement to its existing plan, but not as a substitute.
Ivanov suggested that, by turning down Russia's proposal, offensive medium range (500km) Iskander-K missiles would be placed in the Russian enclave between Poland and Lithuania. Lithuania is so far responding calmly to Ivanov's threat. Lithuanian Prime Minister Gediminas Kirkilas, Minister of Foreign Affairs Petras Vaitiekunas, and the Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Justinas Karosas have stressed the threat is purely hypothetical, but that Lithuania, the EU and NATO would oppose such a move. (Article, Link)
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