July 9, 2007 :: Reuters :: News
The U.S. could deploy a missile defense system to protect the area between Boston and Washington D.C. from a sea-based cruise-missile attack within 14 months for a cost of "several billion dollars," said David Kier, the Lockheed Martin executive in charge of asymmetric threats. "It just requires a will to do it," said Kier. Jeff Kueter, president of the George C. Marshall Institute, spoke on the cruise missile threat and called for increased attention to the growing proliferation of such systems.
Kier and Kueter spoke at a July 9 conference in Washington D.C. sponsored by the American Foreign Policy Council: "Missile Defense Roundtable on The Cruise Missile Challenge," held in the House Rayburn office building. However, new missile defense expenditures are unlikely for the foreseeable future as the newly Democratic Congress has cut funds for existing programs. Some lawmakers argue that cruise missiles are quickly becoming a "weapon of choice" for terrorists and rogue states and therefore the small cost is well worth the cost. (Article)
