Report From Congress: 7/9/2007

Letter

REPORT FROM CONGRESS: 7/9/2007

By Congressman Roger F. Wicker

WICKER NOTES MISSILE DEFENSE DEVELOPMENTS

Missile defense was in the news on two fronts in recent days as President Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin renewed a dialogue on the issue at their "Lobster Summit" in Maine while a bipartisan group of House members launched the Congressional Missile Defense Caucus.

The Russians have always opposed U.S. plans to deploy an anti-missile system, including placing facilities in the Czech Republic and 10 missile interceptors in Poland. But Mr. Putin surprised U.S. officials by offering a counterproposal that included use of an existing early-warning radar site in Azerbaijan or building a new state-of-the-art radar station in southern Russia. While President Bush was firm about his intention to proceed with the initiative in Europe, he called Putin's proposal "constructive and innovative," and other American officials said it represented "real progress" on the issue.

I have doubts about Russia's sincerity to cooperate, but Mr. Putin's apparent shift in thinking is encouraging. A missile shield in Europe would pose no threat to the Russians and could, in fact, protect them from accidental missile launches or attacks from an outlaw regime or terrorist group. Military strategists say the eastern European sites would be a key addition to our defense shield because they are ideally located to intercept a missile fired at the U.S. from Iran.

CAUCUS STRESSES NEED FOR SYSTEM

Just a week before the summit, I joined with 37 colleagues in the House of Representatives in announcing creation of the Missile Defense Caucus. Our group's purpose is to emphasize the urgency of funding, building, and modernizing a missile defense and to address the threats posed by terrorists and rogue nations developing ballistic missile capabilities.

Our caucus supports a layered and robust missile defense that utilizes land, air, sea, and space. It is designed to counter a growing threat posed by strategic military rivals who are building faster, longer-range, and more sophisticated ballistic missiles capable of hitting the United States.

NO LONGER IDLE THREATS

One thing we learned from the 9-11 attack is that terrorists are committed to using the most spectacular and devastating means at their disposal to kill Americans. With each passing day, the possibility increases that a well-funded, organized terrorist group could secure ballistic missile weaponry. We must also pay attention to the reckless and irresponsible actions of leaders of rogue nations such as Iran and North Korea. They either have missile capability already or are pursuing the technology. Such an attack could come with little warning, and we might have as few as 30 minutes to react.

We already have a limited system of interceptors and advanced radar stations in place at sites at Ft. Greely, Alaska, and Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. It is important that Congress continue to fund missile defense efforts at a level to keep development of this defense shield on track.

ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL TEST

In June, the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) announced the ninth successful test in 11 attempts of its sea-based "hit to kill" interceptor system. Launched from a U.S. Aegis-class destroyer off the coast of Hawaii, the interceptor hit the target warhead more than 100 miles above the Pacific Ocean. The MDA's mobile ground-based radar tracked the target first and executed a "handoff" to the warship, proving that ground and sea components could work together successfully.

I hope the high-level talks on missile defense between Presidents Bush and Putin and the efforts of our Caucus will bring more attention to this critical issue. It is a national security imperative to be prepared to meet this challenge.

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