The Huntsville Times December 05, 2004
Intelligence reform bill could boost Redstone
Center here tracks shoulder-fired, foreign missiles
By Shelby G. Spires
The intelligence reform bill stalled in the U.S. House of Representatives has provisions that could bolster a Redstone Arsenal program that tracks foreign-made anti-aircraft missiles across the globe.
If passed, the bill could increase the role Redstone's Missile Space and Intelligence Center plays in keeping shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles out of terrorist hands.
The House version of the bill directs the president to set up a program that would trace and obtain foreign-made, shoulder-fired, surface-to-air missiles - weapons already tracked by the Missile Space and Intelligence Center here.
"As part of our mission area we do look into" shoulder-fired surface-to-air missiles, said Steve Rowe, public relations liaison officer for MSIC.
Rowe couldn't discuss specifically what work MSIC does with the missiles. "Most of what we do is classified, but I can say that is an area of interest to us," he said.
Security forces don't want the lightweight, shoulder-fired missiles to fall into the hands of terrorist organizations because of the direct threat they pose to commercial and military aircraft.
Recent reports claim up to 4,000 of the shoulder-fired missiles are missing from stockpiles once controlled by Saddam Hussein's Iraqi army.
"These are potentially a terrorist's weapon of choice, and they have long been a concern to military and security services around the world," said Stephen Aftergood, an intelligence expert with the Federation of American Scientists in Washington, D.C. "Our Stinger missiles were put to use with the Afghans against the Soviet Union during that country's occupation of Afghanistan."
Both Senate and House versions of the bill mostly focus on creating the position of national intelligence director to take over the intelligence community. The director's position was the main thrust of the Sept. 11 commission's recent suggestions.
The House and Senate each passed versions of the bill, and an agreement had been made to vote on a version to send to the White House. However, the bill has been delayed because Republican Reps. Duncan Hunter of California and James Sensenbrenner of Wisconsin feel it would harm the Pentagon's ability to collect war-time intelligence.
The bill could come up for a vote this week, said U.S. Rep. Bud Cramer, D-Huntsville, who sits on the House Intelligence Committee. "Congress has been debating this issue for some time and should have an opportunity to hold an up or down vote on the latest proposal," he said.
Cramer said it's too early to tell if the outcome of the bill would affect Huntsville, but said changes to the structure of the intelligence community could affect troops in the field.
"With the ongoing war on terror and the reforms being put into place by the new leadership at the CIA, we need to make sure that this is the right time to implement such large-scale reforms," Cramer said.
The recent versions of the legislation provide for several new initiatives, including the program to stem the proliferation of shoulder-fired missiles; a program that would develop devices that could actively protect commercial airliners from shoulder-launched missiles; and money to bolster foreign-language training for the nation's spies.
Defense and security experts don't give the legislation much hope of passing in its current form.
"I never thought the White House was really behind this bill," said John Pike of GlobalSecurity.org. "I thought the (national intelligence director) provision was just a campaign trick to take momentum away from Mr. Kerry, and that has tripped up" the legislation.
Pike said Congress would probably have to start over again when it comes back into session next year. "It'll be a new Congress, a new year and who knows what will be in any new legislation," he said.
Aftergood said the opposing sides "are probably too dug in to get this passed. It will be hard to change that without losing too much face. I will be surprised if it goes forward." © 2004 The Huntsville Times. All rights reserved.
© Copyright 2004,
