Not Enough U.S. Missile Defense Systems to Counter the Threat

WASHINGTON, May 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Riki Ellison, President of the Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance ( HYPERLINK "http://www.missiledefenseadvocacy.org" www.missiledefenseadvocacy.org) went on record pointing out that with 26 foreign countries having deployed ballistic missiles, the U.S. does not have enough missile defense systems to counter the threat posed by that number of countries. He names the 26 foreign countries in a commentary that also explains that a poll by the Opinion Research Corporation showed that more than 83% of the respondents want a strong missile defense. Ellison's comments are as follows:

"Today, 26 foreign countries around the world have deployed ballistic missiles,

Armenia

Bahrain

Belarus

China

Egypt

France

Georgia

India

Iran

Israel

Kazakhstan

Libya

North Korea

Pakistan

Romania

Russia

Saudi Arabia

Slovakia

Syria

Turkey

Turkmenistan

Ukraine

United Arab Emirates

United Kingdom

Vietnam

Yemen

"Last year, over 120 foreign ballistic missiles were launched. Nine of these twenty-six countries have nuclear weapons, nineteen have chemical weapons and eight have biological weapons (Congressional Research Service Report on Proliferation Trends, 2/20/08).North Korea has nuclear weapons andIran is currently installing 9,000 centrifuges for Uranium enrichment. Also,North Korea has deployed 600 to 800 short range and medium missiles whileIran has deployed several hundred short range and medium range missiles.

"Our nation, which has soldiers, citizens, friends and allies in close proximity to all of these twenty-six countries, has little if any, deployed missile defense systems to protect all of these lives. Today, to protect the millions of lives at risk, our country has deployed 24 Long-Range Interceptors, 46 Medium-Range Interceptors and 546 Short-Range Interceptors. This is clearly not enough capability to ensure our public safety and protection of our armed forces and allies today, let alone next year or five years from now.

"In this current threat environment as well as the endorsement of the 26 countries in NATO for the deployment of missile defense inEurope,the United States House of Representatives Armed Services Committee (HASC) is cutting $719 million from the Department of Defense's request for Missile Defense and withdrawing authorization for funding of the European Missile Defense site in 2009. This is in direct contrast to the same committee inthe United States Senate, which earlier this month authorized full funding of the European Missile Defense site.

"Missile Defense is one of the few weapon systems inthe United States Department of Defense budget that is developed not to kill, injure or harm human life. At 1.8% of the Department of Defense's budget, Missile Defense protects, reduces threats and stabilizes crisis regions, allowing our country to have other options rather than military action or war. In addition, 83% of the American Public wantsthe United States to have a missile defense system (2007 Poll by the Opinion Research Corporation).

"The best defense is the best defense, and today's technology and innovation is putting in place the best defense. This has been proven by the recent satellite shoot-down in February and the recent testing successes of the U.S. missile defense systems, which have had 26 out of 27 successful intercepts since September of 2005."

Ellison closed his remarks with this advice: "We Need It, We Want it, and We Want More of It."

Riki Ellison is available for interviews. Call Mike Terrill at 602 885-1955 to arrange.

SOURCE Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance

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