The Huntsville Times September 17, 2009
Shelby, Sessions question cancellation of missile defense program
By Brian Lyman
Republican Sens. Richard Shelby, R-Tuscaloosa and Jeff Sessions, R-Mobile, are questioning the White House decision to cancel planned missile defense sites in Eastern Europe this morning, calling the decision a probable dangerous move for NATO, America and other allies.
"The Obama administration's decision to cancel the proposed missile defense site in Europe to appease Russia is misguided at best and dangerous at worst," said Shelby in a statement released by his office today. "The Iranian threat is real. We cannot allow the current administration to jeopardize our national security and supersede the security and stability of Europe and other strategic allies that deserve the highest possible level of defense."
President Barack Obama announced his decision to pull out of agreements with Poland and the Czech Republic this morning. The Pentagon had been working to install a 10-missile interceptor field in Poland and an advanced radar in the Czech Republic.
Work on the program would have been managed out of Huntsville by Boeing. The decade old program already has more than 20 missile interceptors in the ground in Alaska and California, and it has advanced intercept radars scattered around the globe.
The decision also caused concern with Sessions, who noted the move could be seen as America leaving Eastern Europe open to renewed aggression from Russia.
""Today, on the 70th anniversary of Russia's invasion of Poland, President Obama has signaled to our European allies that the United States will suddenly and inexplicably walk away from our commitment, turning our back on our allies in an apparent effort to appease Russia. This callous and cavalier decision leaves our friends out on a limb, high and dry.
"President Obama's announcement is indicative of a larger hostility towards our nation's longstanding missile defense plans."
Missile defense experts say junking the Bush-era policy could weaken US relations with allies around the world.
"It will raise questions as to whether the US is a reliable partner," said John Pike, who runs Globalsecurity.org. "Bush made commitments to the Ukraine and to Georgia. This raises the question as to whether Obama plans to honor those promises."
Riki Ellison, who runs the Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance, believes the move opens up the Eastern coast of the United States to attack from Iranian missiles "that are currently under development," he said.
"The point that has not been covered is that these sites were as much about attacking the Eastern seaboard of the US as it was about protecting Europe. Nobody has answered how that is to be done yet," Ellison said.
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