President Obama Outlines His Plan for Missile Defense

President Barack Obama

9 May 2009 02:51 Africa/Lagos

President Obama Outlines His Plan for Missile Defense

ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 8 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Riki Ellison, Chairman and Founder of the Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance (MDAA) www.missiledefenseadvocacy.org informed the members of MDAA about the Fiscal Year 2010 budget request for missile defense today. In his alert Ellison reviewed the requests, the impacts and then closed his remarks with two critical questions for our nation about the new direction of our missile defense program. His comments are as follows:


"President Barack Obama released the federal budget for 2010 yesterday in Washington D.C., and this was his first major budget release of his Administration setting the precedent for his Presidency. Inside of his $3.4 trillion budget was the Department of Defense's Budget request of $534 billion and the Missile Defense Budget request for $7.8 billion. The Department of Defense budget was increased by $21 billion, a 4% increase from last year while funding going to the Missile Defense Agency budget was decreased by $1.2 billion, a 13% decrease."


"This Administration has reshaped, restructured and redirected missile defense as they make it their own and take full ownership from the former President George W. Bush and the four previous Presidents that have contributed Department of Defense dollars towards missile defense. With an overall $8.2 billion spent on Missile Defense including Army Patriot Missile Defense systems at $400 million for 2010, missile defense still remains a core mission of the Department of Defense and President Barack Obama's Administration."


"The Obama Administration's direction for missile defense focuses on:


- Increasing capability against short and medium range ballistic missiles in regions against rogue nations to protect our forward based armed forces and allies through deploying more THAAD, SM3 missiles and AEGIS BMD Ships as well as developing land based SM3 missile defense systems.


- Developing assent and upper boost phase missile defense capabilities through SM3/ AEGIS development, enhanced THAAD capability, and deploying a Space Tracking and Surveillance System (STSS) constellation.


- Revamping the testing program with an aggressive amount of significant intercept tests, an estimated 37 or so by 2015.


- Holding in place the development of the European Midcourse Radar in the Czech Republic and the 10 Ground based missiles in Poland until 2011 and ratification comes forward by the Czech Republic and Poland on the agreements with the United States.


- Reducing and enhancing the long range ballistic missile protection of the United States homeland to 30 Ground Based Interceptors in Alaska and California from a projected 50 (40 in US and 10 in Poland)."


"After review of the statements made and examination of the budget, there are two questions regarding this new administration's direction and pragmatic approach for the protection of the American people from ballistic missiles.


1. With the increase of ballistic missile and nuclear proliferation from rogue nations since the beginning of this year highlighted by Iran's satellite launch on February 3; Failure of Diplomacy and international sanctions including UN security resolutions to prevent North Korea from launching a long range missile or space vehicle; North Korea's successful 3 staging of a long range missile on April 5; and North Korea's opening up of their nuclear program and Iran's continual uranium enrichment programs - why is the United States not increasing its missile defense resources?


2. As of less than 6 months ago, the United States Department of Defense through the Missile Defense Agency and the Strategic Combat Command had determined that 50 ground based interceptors were required to defend the territory and the homeland of the United States of America from a simultaneous attack of around two dozen or so projected long range ballistic missiles from North Korea and Iran. What has changed in the threat development and proliferation of ballistic missile capability of either North Korea and Iran in the last 6 months to warrant a 40% decrease to 30 ground based interceptors to protect the American Public and their nation?"


"Missile defense is about our nation and the fundamental core protecting our homeland from current and future threats and should always be a high priority . To sacrifice or reduce the long range missile protection of our nation for short and medium range missile defense capabilities should not be the choice; all should be supported."


"It is of strong merit that international leadership for missile defense is and continues to be led by our nation. The threat continues to grow and we cannot afford to be the only country with capabilities to ensure protection, deterrence and dissuasion against rogue nations. The United States is working with 17 nations in the international community and NATO on missile defense as well as developing missile defense systems with more than 6 countries, thus missile defense resources must be able to continue to support these efforts for global protection. A global problem requires a global solution."


"President Barack Obama and his Administration need to have other options than the United Nations, diplomacy, and use of military force, for if not, he will face a world of new nuclear powers that will be driven by lack of missile defense and U.S. deterrence to become nuclear. This is too important for our nation and our world to not allocate the full resources from the U.S. government.


Riki Ellison is available for on-the-record interviews. Call Mike Terrill at 602 885-1955.


Source: Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance

CONTACT: Mike Terrill, +1-602-885-1955, Missile Defense Advocacy
Alliance


Web Site: http://www.missiledefenseadvocacy.org/


Hot Topics

Obama more popular than US among Arabs: survey‎ -

Energizer Holdings, Inc. Announces Acquisition of Edge and Skintimate Shave Preparation Business
Stressed and Sedentary Lifestyles Increase as Recession Appears to Take its Toll on Britain's Health
More Americans Turning to Home Theaters Over Expensive Outside Entertainment
Biggest Mortgage Lenders
Women at Greater Risk for Depression and Anxiety
Formula One in the UK Looks set to Lose the Innovation Race
Small Businesses Hugely Reliant on Credit Cards According to New NSBA Survey
Mother's Day
Swine Flu Outbreak
Quarterly Earnings Reports
UK Government News Network Releases

Releases displayed in Africa/Lagos time
10 May 2009
03:06
Dr. Alan Keyes Released From Jail After Witnessing Against Abortion; Plans to Return; Releases Video Calling for Others to Join Him in the Upcoming Week
9 May 2009
05:49
President Obama Urged to Issue 'Dijon-Gate Pardons'
02:51
President Obama Outlines His Plan for Missile Defense
8 May 2009
19:59
Machinists Applaud President's Vocational Training Initiative
14:09
Statement From Democrats for Education Reform Executive Director Joe Williams
7 May 2009
22:27
AIDS Action Welcomes President's Budget Increases Yet Expresses Distress With Failure to End Federal Ban on Syringe Exchange Funding
19:00
Budget: Obama Retreats on Global AIDS, Says AHF
6 May 2009
23:30
CAIR Calls for 'Impartial' Probe of Afghan Civilian Deaths
20:25
Arizona State University Responds to White House Challenge by Establishing President Barack Obama Scholars Program
19:11
President Obama Issues Historic Biofuels Directive to Key Cabinet Members
17:25
Local Schools from Maine to Florida Receive a Library Week Surprise
12:00
Dr. Alan Keyes Coming to Notre Dame to be Arrested; Keyes Urges Abortion Foes to Come '...Until the South Bend Jail is Filled to Overflowing...'
06:25
Baloch Sindhi Front of United States and Baloch International League for Peace & Freedom to Hold Demonstration at White House
5 May 2009
22:11
An Open Letter to President Obama From the Cayman Islands Financial Services Association
21:23
Qatar Airways Joins With Capitol File Magazine to Host White House Correspondents Dinner After Party
19:09
Corporate Accountability International: Tobacco Giant Leads in Profits, Addicting Youth
18:29
BioInformatics, LLC New Report - Capitalizing on New Opportunities for Stem Cell Products, Now Available
12:54
Is This the Book the White House is Reading?
11:11
The Prince of Wales Launches Online Public Awareness Campaign to Save Rainforests
02:59
New Book Shines Light on Cause of U.S. Crises