By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service
Jan. 15, 2008 - A proposed anti-ballistic missile defense site in Poland would benefit all of Europe, a senior Pentagon spokesman said here today. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Polish Defense Minister Bogdan Klich discussed Iraq, missile defense and other issues today during meetings held at the Defense Department's headquarters, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell told reporters.
Gates and Klich "had a discussion about a range of issues," Morrell reported, including Polish plans to reduce their forces in Iraq while increasing their troop contribution in Afghanistan. There are now about 900 Polish troops in Iraq and around 1,200 in Afghanistan. News reports say Poland is considering withdrawing its forces from Iraq sometime this year, while sending 400 more troops to Afghanistan.
But Gates and Klich spent most of their time together discussing missile-defense issues, Morrell said. American security experts believe that a missile-defense system should be installed in Eastern Europe, specifically placing an interceptor site in Poland and a related facility in the Czech Republic to counter the threat of a potential ballistic-missile strike from Iran.
A new Polish government was elected in November, and its senior officials have been examining the missile-defense issue, Morrell noted.
"I think we are now at the point where they understand where the previous government has negotiated" on the missile-defense issue, Morrell said of the senior Polish leaders in the new government. "They have some domestic concerns which they are trying to address."
Meanwhile, Defense Department and other U.S. government officials continue to negotiate the missile-defense issue with Poland's government.
The proposed missile-defense program is "of vital importance, not just for us, but really for Europe, and that's the key here," Morrell emphasized. "Putting these interceptors in Poland does far more to benefit Europe and our allies there than it does for us."
The missile-defense issue also involves the Atlantic Alliance, Morrell pointed out. The United States and Poland are NATO members.
"This is an issue for NATO. Deploying interceptors in Poland will provide NATO with the ability to protect itself from a missile threat virtually everybody recognizes exists today," Morrell said.
Showing posts with label missle defense. Show all posts
Showing posts with label missle defense. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Gates Calls U.S. Offers to Russia on Missile Defense Enough
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
Oct. 25, 2007 - The United States has given Russia sufficient concessions regarding a proposed missile defense system in Eastern Europe and supports diplomatic and economic measures to rein in the Iranian missile threat, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said today. "I think we've gone pretty far," Gates said of measures he and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice offered during their recent trip to Moscow to reduce Russian opposition to the missile system and reassure the Russians it wouldn't threaten them.
"I think that if you look at the four or five principal proposals we've put forward, they represent a very forward-leaning posture in terms of partnering with the Russians," Gates said.
He offered his assessment during a return flight to Washington following a five-day swing through Europe that included meetings with Czech and Polish leaders. The proposed missile defense system would include an X-band radar in the Czech Republic and 10 interceptor missiles in Poland.
The secretary also met today with Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov during a meeting of the NATO-Russia Council at the NATO informal ministerial in Noordwijk, Netherlands.
Gates told reporters in the Czech Republic that he and Rice had suggested to the Russians ways to "encourage transparency and greater information on the part of Russia as to what is going on at these sites."
One would be to allow Russian observers. Another might be to build the system but delay its deployment until the United States provided "concrete proof of the threat from Iran."
Although the Russians have yet to respond formally, statements issued by the Russian news agency indicate the suggestions are getting a "nyet."
Gates told reporters today the big question is "whether the Russians are serious about partnering with us or whether this is merely a pose to try and stop us from going forward with the Czech Republic and Poland."
He said positive reaction he's gotten from European officials about the proposals he and Rice presented indicates "just how far-reaching they really are."
"I think we've leaned about as far forward as we can. We've offered a lot," Gates said. "And my view is, now I want to see some movement on their part."
Although the United States and Russia disagree over plans to build missile defenses, they share a recognition of the Iranian missile threat it will protect against, Gate said. "It was clear when I was in Russia that the Russians consider Iran a security threat," Gates said. "It's just a disagreement about when their missiles might be available to have a certain range."
While asserting that the United States will follow through with its plans to build defenses with or without Russian consent, Gates said the U.S. would prefer to head off the situation by using political pressure and economic sanctions to get Iran to give up its nuclear program.
"The focus that we all have is on using diplomatic pressure and economic sanctions to persuade the Iranian government that they are isolated (and) they need to alter their policies and ambitions," he said.
Gates expressed hope that "tightening the pressure and increasing the isolation of this government in Tehran" will convince the broad range of Iranian leaders that "it's not in their interest or the interest of the Iranian people to continue to pursue the course they are on."
American Forces Press Service
Oct. 25, 2007 - The United States has given Russia sufficient concessions regarding a proposed missile defense system in Eastern Europe and supports diplomatic and economic measures to rein in the Iranian missile threat, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said today. "I think we've gone pretty far," Gates said of measures he and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice offered during their recent trip to Moscow to reduce Russian opposition to the missile system and reassure the Russians it wouldn't threaten them.
"I think that if you look at the four or five principal proposals we've put forward, they represent a very forward-leaning posture in terms of partnering with the Russians," Gates said.
He offered his assessment during a return flight to Washington following a five-day swing through Europe that included meetings with Czech and Polish leaders. The proposed missile defense system would include an X-band radar in the Czech Republic and 10 interceptor missiles in Poland.
The secretary also met today with Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov during a meeting of the NATO-Russia Council at the NATO informal ministerial in Noordwijk, Netherlands.
Gates told reporters in the Czech Republic that he and Rice had suggested to the Russians ways to "encourage transparency and greater information on the part of Russia as to what is going on at these sites."
One would be to allow Russian observers. Another might be to build the system but delay its deployment until the United States provided "concrete proof of the threat from Iran."
Although the Russians have yet to respond formally, statements issued by the Russian news agency indicate the suggestions are getting a "nyet."
Gates told reporters today the big question is "whether the Russians are serious about partnering with us or whether this is merely a pose to try and stop us from going forward with the Czech Republic and Poland."
He said positive reaction he's gotten from European officials about the proposals he and Rice presented indicates "just how far-reaching they really are."
"I think we've leaned about as far forward as we can. We've offered a lot," Gates said. "And my view is, now I want to see some movement on their part."
Although the United States and Russia disagree over plans to build missile defenses, they share a recognition of the Iranian missile threat it will protect against, Gate said. "It was clear when I was in Russia that the Russians consider Iran a security threat," Gates said. "It's just a disagreement about when their missiles might be available to have a certain range."
While asserting that the United States will follow through with its plans to build defenses with or without Russian consent, Gates said the U.S. would prefer to head off the situation by using political pressure and economic sanctions to get Iran to give up its nuclear program.
"The focus that we all have is on using diplomatic pressure and economic sanctions to persuade the Iranian government that they are isolated (and) they need to alter their policies and ambitions," he said.
Gates expressed hope that "tightening the pressure and increasing the isolation of this government in Tehran" will convince the broad range of Iranian leaders that "it's not in their interest or the interest of the Iranian people to continue to pursue the course they are on."
U.S., Russia Not Headed for New Cold War, Gates Says
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
Oct. 24, 2007 - The United States and Russia are not headed toward a new Cold War, and the United States still considers Russia a strategic ally, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said during an interview with Radio Free Europe yesterday in Prague. Gates was in the Czech Republic as part of a European trip that also has included stops in Ukraine and at NATO meetings in the Netherlands.
The defense secretary maintained that Russia and the United States still have many common interests and can work together.
"I think our approach should be to consider Russia a strategic partner until and unless it proves otherwise," Gates said during the interview. "There has been a lot of rhetoric, but in terms of specific actions so far, the Russians have not taken any irreversible decisions. And they have, in some areas, continued to play a constructive role."
The United States should continue to work with Russia where it can, he said.
The U.S. relationship with Russia is not in danger of becoming a new Cold War, Gates said. During the heyday of the Soviet Union, the United States was in the midst of an ideological war with communism.
The Cold War took place in a different world, the secretary said, and while some of Russian President Vladimir Putin's rhetoric has been strong, Russia still is cooperating with the United States and European nations.
"We just don't have anything like the global competition or the global conflict that existed and where people were worried that we had our missiles pointed at each other all the time," Gates said. "Nobody wants a new Cold War, and I don't think the Russians do, either."
Gates shied away from the tendency of people to assume an "us vs. them" mindset, saying the world situation is more difficult and varied than during the Cold War. Kosovo is one example. "It's not just the United States that's dealing with Russia. Kosovo is above all a European matter, it's a NATO matter; it's for all of the Europeans -- the EU and so on," he said. "So it's not just the United States trying to get the Russians to take a particular point of view on Kosovo, but it's all of Europe that is in this.
"And it's the same way on some of these other challenges that we face where we're talking with the Russians," he added. The Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty, relations with Iran, the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty, and North Korea are all issues that many nations have concerns about, the secretary said.
"This is an issue about how Russia is going to interrelate with the rest of Europe," the secretary said. "Does Russia wish to be a part of Europe and wish to be a strategic partner with the United States? I think they do. And I think that the increasing business investments, both in Russia and in Europe, can illustrate that that's true."
Gates said people shouldn't jump to conclusions over rhetoric from the Kremlin. Russia is much different from the former Soviet Union. While Russian leaders are more authoritarian than U.S. officials would wish, the country has not returned to the Soviet days. "As I said in my speech on democracy in Williamsburg a few weeks ago, it takes time to build the institutions of democracy," he said. "Just having an election doesn't mean you have a democracy, so these institutions have to grow.
"I think we need to encourage the development of freedom in Russia, we need to encourage the development of democratic institutions, but also think we need to understand that those things take time," Gates said.
Gates also discussed talks with Czech leaders about putting radar for an anti-ballistic missile system in the Czech Republic. Russia strongly resists this, even though Putin has received assurances that the system is not aimed at his country. Gates said the Czech leaders were intrigued by the new proposals the United States put on the table in Moscow.
"We made it perfectly clear in Russia that we were going to proceed with the negotiations with the Czech Republic and Poland regardless and, if those negotiations are successful, then to proceed to deploy, or build, these radars and interceptors," Gates said.
"However, we also said that if the question is about the threat," he continued, "then we might be willing to sit down and talk with the Russians about not activating the completed systems until the threat was apparent, in other words, until the Iranians or others in the Middle East had flight-tested missiles of a range that could hit Europe, as an example. And I think the government here, as in Moscow, was taken with it; even President Putin referred to the proposals as constructive."
Gates said the future is still open for the Russian people. He believes there will be a gradual increase in democratic reforms in Russia as the economy improves. "I think part of the problem in Russia was that because the economy collapsed along with the Soviet Union," he said. "In the minds of many Russians, democracy became confused with economic disaster, with criminal activities, with activities of the oligarchs and thievery and so on, and chaos."
Russia lost an opportunity at that time, Gates said. "I think now, with stability, with economic growth, with growing prosperity, my hope is that that opportunity that ... the Russians missed early in the 1990s will be recaptured, and that would be my hope for Russia over the next 10 years," he said.
American Forces Press Service
Oct. 24, 2007 - The United States and Russia are not headed toward a new Cold War, and the United States still considers Russia a strategic ally, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said during an interview with Radio Free Europe yesterday in Prague. Gates was in the Czech Republic as part of a European trip that also has included stops in Ukraine and at NATO meetings in the Netherlands.
The defense secretary maintained that Russia and the United States still have many common interests and can work together.
"I think our approach should be to consider Russia a strategic partner until and unless it proves otherwise," Gates said during the interview. "There has been a lot of rhetoric, but in terms of specific actions so far, the Russians have not taken any irreversible decisions. And they have, in some areas, continued to play a constructive role."
The United States should continue to work with Russia where it can, he said.
The U.S. relationship with Russia is not in danger of becoming a new Cold War, Gates said. During the heyday of the Soviet Union, the United States was in the midst of an ideological war with communism.
The Cold War took place in a different world, the secretary said, and while some of Russian President Vladimir Putin's rhetoric has been strong, Russia still is cooperating with the United States and European nations.
"We just don't have anything like the global competition or the global conflict that existed and where people were worried that we had our missiles pointed at each other all the time," Gates said. "Nobody wants a new Cold War, and I don't think the Russians do, either."
Gates shied away from the tendency of people to assume an "us vs. them" mindset, saying the world situation is more difficult and varied than during the Cold War. Kosovo is one example. "It's not just the United States that's dealing with Russia. Kosovo is above all a European matter, it's a NATO matter; it's for all of the Europeans -- the EU and so on," he said. "So it's not just the United States trying to get the Russians to take a particular point of view on Kosovo, but it's all of Europe that is in this.
"And it's the same way on some of these other challenges that we face where we're talking with the Russians," he added. The Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty, relations with Iran, the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty, and North Korea are all issues that many nations have concerns about, the secretary said.
"This is an issue about how Russia is going to interrelate with the rest of Europe," the secretary said. "Does Russia wish to be a part of Europe and wish to be a strategic partner with the United States? I think they do. And I think that the increasing business investments, both in Russia and in Europe, can illustrate that that's true."
Gates said people shouldn't jump to conclusions over rhetoric from the Kremlin. Russia is much different from the former Soviet Union. While Russian leaders are more authoritarian than U.S. officials would wish, the country has not returned to the Soviet days. "As I said in my speech on democracy in Williamsburg a few weeks ago, it takes time to build the institutions of democracy," he said. "Just having an election doesn't mean you have a democracy, so these institutions have to grow.
"I think we need to encourage the development of freedom in Russia, we need to encourage the development of democratic institutions, but also think we need to understand that those things take time," Gates said.
Gates also discussed talks with Czech leaders about putting radar for an anti-ballistic missile system in the Czech Republic. Russia strongly resists this, even though Putin has received assurances that the system is not aimed at his country. Gates said the Czech leaders were intrigued by the new proposals the United States put on the table in Moscow.
"We made it perfectly clear in Russia that we were going to proceed with the negotiations with the Czech Republic and Poland regardless and, if those negotiations are successful, then to proceed to deploy, or build, these radars and interceptors," Gates said.
"However, we also said that if the question is about the threat," he continued, "then we might be willing to sit down and talk with the Russians about not activating the completed systems until the threat was apparent, in other words, until the Iranians or others in the Middle East had flight-tested missiles of a range that could hit Europe, as an example. And I think the government here, as in Moscow, was taken with it; even President Putin referred to the proposals as constructive."
Gates said the future is still open for the Russian people. He believes there will be a gradual increase in democratic reforms in Russia as the economy improves. "I think part of the problem in Russia was that because the economy collapsed along with the Soviet Union," he said. "In the minds of many Russians, democracy became confused with economic disaster, with criminal activities, with activities of the oligarchs and thievery and so on, and chaos."
Russia lost an opportunity at that time, Gates said. "I think now, with stability, with economic growth, with growing prosperity, my hope is that that opportunity that ... the Russians missed early in the 1990s will be recaptured, and that would be my hope for Russia over the next 10 years," he said.
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Missile Defense Dominates Gates Meetings in Czech Republic
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
Oct. 23, 2007 - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates told reporters after meeting today with Czech leaders he's confident negotiations to place a radar here for a missile defense system are on track and likely to wrap up within the next few months. The proposed X-band radar dominated Gates' meetings today with Czech President Vaclav Klaus, Defense Minister Vlasta Parkanova and Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek, Gates told reporters during a news conference following the sessions.
"I believe we have made and continue to make good progress," Gates said, expressing confidence that the negotiations will wrap up within the next few months.
A sticking point -- but one Gates said won't stop the forward momentum – is Russian opposition to the proposed system that would include 10 interceptor missiles in Poland as well as the radar here.
Gates told reporters today he and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice "made quite clear" during their recent visit to Russia "that we will continue our negotiations with the Czech Republic and Poland, and assuming those negotiations are successfully concluded, we will begin the deploying of these sites."
The secretary and other U.S. officials have emphasized that the proposed system would be designed to protect Europe and the United States from ballistic missile attacks launched from the Middle East.
Gates said he told Czech leaders today about his and Rice's efforts during their Moscow visit to reassure the Russians the system wouldn't threat them. "We continue to encourage the Russians to partner with us in missile defense and continue our efforts to reassure them that these facilities are not aimed at Russia and could benefit Russia," he said.
As part of that effort, Gates said, he and Rice offered two possible ways to "encourage transparency and greater information on the part of Russia as to what is going on at these sites."
One option might be to allow Russian observers at the sites, he said, but Gates said the Czech Republic has to agree to the measure. "Let me repeat for emphasis: Nothing will be done in this regard without the consent of the Czech government," he said.
Topolanek declined to comment when asked by a reporter if his government would consider such a measure.
Another way to increase transparency about the system might be to tie its activation in to "definitive proof of the threat," including Iranian missile tests, Gates said. "The idea was that we would go forward with the negotiations, ... complete the negotiations, ... develop the sites (and) build the sites, but perhaps delay activating them until there was concrete proof of the threat from Iran," he said.
That proposal isn't yet fully developed, he said.
The United States asked the Czech government in January to begin negotiations about the proposed radar, conceivably to be built at a military base between Prague and Pilsen. The first round of negotiations with the Czechs took place in May, and the second in September.
Discussions are expected to resume later this month, initially focusing on a status-of-forces agreement to govern up to 200 U.S. troops who would operate and secure the system here. Those talks would lead up to the next round of negotiations about the missile defense site early next month.
The goal is for the system to reach initial operating capability in 2011 and to become fully operational by mid-2013, a senior defense official traveling with Gates told reporters.
Although Russia objects to missile defenses in Eastern Europe, the official said, it acknowledges that Iran is pursing a ballistic missile program. "The difference is over timelines, how soon the ballistic missiles with the range that could reach the United States or greater parts of Europe can be achieved," he said. "The Russians say later rather than sooner. We say sooner rather than later."
Iran may be the most troubling, but not the only threat in the region, the official said. Intelligence indicates that "about 20 countries or actors are pursing ballistic missile technology," he said. Of these, Iran is the most advanced in its pursuit of this weaponry. "But even if Iran was to turn in all its missiles (and) all its technology, there would still be concerns and threats emanating from the Middle East region," he said.
Gates said today he ultimately hopes the proposed missile defense system becomes part of a larger effort that addresses the full range of potential threats. He said he told Czech leaders he'll bring up the issue at the NATO informal ministerial conference that begins tomorrow in Noordwijk, the Netherlands, and hopes NATO will take formal action on the concept during its 2008 summit in Bucharest, Hungary.
"It is our hope that one of the outcomes of the Bucharest Summit next year will be a resolution to go forward and develop short- and medium-range missile defenses for NATO that would go together with the American longer-range protection," he said. "Our goal is an integrated system that would protect all the members of the alliance against threats such as from Iranian ballistic missile."
Gates said he's confident that both foreign and defense ministers within NATO support the approach.
Tomas Pojar, the Czech Republic's deputy foreign minister, told reporters today negotiations are expected to continue without a hitch, but that getting passage of the measure by the Czech parliament "will not be easy."
Any resistance to the measure comes from politicians and the media, not the Czech people, he said. "The public is not interested in the issue," he said.
Pojar cited three reasons the Czech Republic agreed to enter negotiations over the radar: its historical ties to the United States, its recognition of the ballistic missile threat, and its desire for a U.S. and NATO presence in Central Europe.
The Czech Republic has a "historic, moral reason," for supporting the United States and hasn't forgotten that "the U.S. has saved us several times in the past century," Pojar said.
Another factor is the increasing likelihood that a weapon of mass destruction could be launched from the Middle East. Pojar said there's a "30 to 50 percent chance" such a weapon could be ready for a potential attack on Europe as soon as 2015. "We should be ready for that scenario," he said.
Pojar said there's also a geopolitical reason for a U.S. presence in Central Europe, and said the Czech Republic welcomes other countries, too.
The Czechs joined NATO in 1999 and have been seeking to expand their participation in NATO and European Union activities. Failing to move forward with a missile defense system would weaken NATO and leave Europe vulnerable, he said.
"Our future depends on a strong NATO and strong trans-Atlantic ties," he said.
Gates praised Czech support for the missile defense system effort as another step in a longstanding relationship between the two allies.
"For a number of years, the U.S. and the Czech Republic have cooperated on a wide variety of security issues," Gates said. "And today, facing new challenges, our relationship is as strong as it has ever been."
American Forces Press Service
Oct. 23, 2007 - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates told reporters after meeting today with Czech leaders he's confident negotiations to place a radar here for a missile defense system are on track and likely to wrap up within the next few months. The proposed X-band radar dominated Gates' meetings today with Czech President Vaclav Klaus, Defense Minister Vlasta Parkanova and Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek, Gates told reporters during a news conference following the sessions.
"I believe we have made and continue to make good progress," Gates said, expressing confidence that the negotiations will wrap up within the next few months.
A sticking point -- but one Gates said won't stop the forward momentum – is Russian opposition to the proposed system that would include 10 interceptor missiles in Poland as well as the radar here.
Gates told reporters today he and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice "made quite clear" during their recent visit to Russia "that we will continue our negotiations with the Czech Republic and Poland, and assuming those negotiations are successfully concluded, we will begin the deploying of these sites."
The secretary and other U.S. officials have emphasized that the proposed system would be designed to protect Europe and the United States from ballistic missile attacks launched from the Middle East.
Gates said he told Czech leaders today about his and Rice's efforts during their Moscow visit to reassure the Russians the system wouldn't threat them. "We continue to encourage the Russians to partner with us in missile defense and continue our efforts to reassure them that these facilities are not aimed at Russia and could benefit Russia," he said.
As part of that effort, Gates said, he and Rice offered two possible ways to "encourage transparency and greater information on the part of Russia as to what is going on at these sites."
One option might be to allow Russian observers at the sites, he said, but Gates said the Czech Republic has to agree to the measure. "Let me repeat for emphasis: Nothing will be done in this regard without the consent of the Czech government," he said.
Topolanek declined to comment when asked by a reporter if his government would consider such a measure.
Another way to increase transparency about the system might be to tie its activation in to "definitive proof of the threat," including Iranian missile tests, Gates said. "The idea was that we would go forward with the negotiations, ... complete the negotiations, ... develop the sites (and) build the sites, but perhaps delay activating them until there was concrete proof of the threat from Iran," he said.
That proposal isn't yet fully developed, he said.
The United States asked the Czech government in January to begin negotiations about the proposed radar, conceivably to be built at a military base between Prague and Pilsen. The first round of negotiations with the Czechs took place in May, and the second in September.
Discussions are expected to resume later this month, initially focusing on a status-of-forces agreement to govern up to 200 U.S. troops who would operate and secure the system here. Those talks would lead up to the next round of negotiations about the missile defense site early next month.
The goal is for the system to reach initial operating capability in 2011 and to become fully operational by mid-2013, a senior defense official traveling with Gates told reporters.
Although Russia objects to missile defenses in Eastern Europe, the official said, it acknowledges that Iran is pursing a ballistic missile program. "The difference is over timelines, how soon the ballistic missiles with the range that could reach the United States or greater parts of Europe can be achieved," he said. "The Russians say later rather than sooner. We say sooner rather than later."
Iran may be the most troubling, but not the only threat in the region, the official said. Intelligence indicates that "about 20 countries or actors are pursing ballistic missile technology," he said. Of these, Iran is the most advanced in its pursuit of this weaponry. "But even if Iran was to turn in all its missiles (and) all its technology, there would still be concerns and threats emanating from the Middle East region," he said.
Gates said today he ultimately hopes the proposed missile defense system becomes part of a larger effort that addresses the full range of potential threats. He said he told Czech leaders he'll bring up the issue at the NATO informal ministerial conference that begins tomorrow in Noordwijk, the Netherlands, and hopes NATO will take formal action on the concept during its 2008 summit in Bucharest, Hungary.
"It is our hope that one of the outcomes of the Bucharest Summit next year will be a resolution to go forward and develop short- and medium-range missile defenses for NATO that would go together with the American longer-range protection," he said. "Our goal is an integrated system that would protect all the members of the alliance against threats such as from Iranian ballistic missile."
Gates said he's confident that both foreign and defense ministers within NATO support the approach.
Tomas Pojar, the Czech Republic's deputy foreign minister, told reporters today negotiations are expected to continue without a hitch, but that getting passage of the measure by the Czech parliament "will not be easy."
Any resistance to the measure comes from politicians and the media, not the Czech people, he said. "The public is not interested in the issue," he said.
Pojar cited three reasons the Czech Republic agreed to enter negotiations over the radar: its historical ties to the United States, its recognition of the ballistic missile threat, and its desire for a U.S. and NATO presence in Central Europe.
The Czech Republic has a "historic, moral reason," for supporting the United States and hasn't forgotten that "the U.S. has saved us several times in the past century," Pojar said.
Another factor is the increasing likelihood that a weapon of mass destruction could be launched from the Middle East. Pojar said there's a "30 to 50 percent chance" such a weapon could be ready for a potential attack on Europe as soon as 2015. "We should be ready for that scenario," he said.
Pojar said there's also a geopolitical reason for a U.S. presence in Central Europe, and said the Czech Republic welcomes other countries, too.
The Czechs joined NATO in 1999 and have been seeking to expand their participation in NATO and European Union activities. Failing to move forward with a missile defense system would weaken NATO and leave Europe vulnerable, he said.
"Our future depends on a strong NATO and strong trans-Atlantic ties," he said.
Gates praised Czech support for the missile defense system effort as another step in a longstanding relationship between the two allies.
"For a number of years, the U.S. and the Czech Republic have cooperated on a wide variety of security issues," Gates said. "And today, facing new challenges, our relationship is as strong as it has ever been."
Friday, October 12, 2007
Missile Defense Tops Agenda at Gates, Rice Meeting with Russian Leaders
By Linda D. Kozaryn
American Forces Press Service
, Oct. 12, 2007 - U.S. plans to base missile defense radar and interceptors in Poland and the Czech Republic and Russia's opposition to those plans were at the heart of talks between U.S. and Russian leaders here this morning. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Defense Minister Anatoliy Eduardovich Serdyukov and Foreign Affairs Minister Sergey Lavrov at Putin's residence outside of Moscow.
According to pool reports, Putin did not meet with Gates and Rice until 40 minutes after their arrival. Prior to the meeting, U.S. reporters asked Lavrov if there would be any big breakthroughs during the talks. The foreign minister replied: "Breaks, definitely. Through or down -- I don't know."
In his opening remarks, Putin said, "I hope today's talks on many issues will be fruitful, but I hope that in the process of such complex and multifaceted talks you will not be forcing forward your relations with the Eastern European countries."
In a tone described by pool reporters as "mocking," Putin mentioned the possibility of a future missile defense system.
"Of course we can sometime in the future decide that some anti-missile defense system should be established somewhere on the moon," Putin said, according to an English translation. "But before we reach such arrangements, we will lose the opportunity for fixing some particular arrangements between us."
Putin threatened to abandon a key nuclear missile treaty. He said the Cold War-era Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty limiting Russian and U.S. short- and medium-range missiles was outmoded because other countries are acquiring such weapons.
"If we are unable to make such a goal of making this treaty universal, then it will be difficult for us to keep within the framework of such a treaty, especially when other countries do have such weapons systems," Putin said.
Gates told the Russians that the Pentagon was ready to intensify a dialogue on military relations.
"We have an ambitious agenda of security issues that concern both of us, including as you suggest, development of missile systems by others in the neighborhood, I would say in particular Iran," he said.
Rice responded to Putin's remarks by saying that the United States will try to find ways to cooperate. "Even though we have our differences, we have a great deal in common because that which unites us in trying to deal with the threats of terrorism, of proliferation are much greater than the issues that divide us," she said.
During a briefing on her way to Moscow, Rice said the goal of the missile defense system is to bring about security for European allies and the United States.
"We've been very clear that we need the Czech and Polish sites," she said. "But I think we ought to look at all the possible elements of what the President (Bush) and President Putin called a kind of regional architecture for missile defense. And there is considerable interest in both Azerbaijan and some of the possibilities in Russia itself. So I think we ought to look at all the possible elements."
American Forces Press Service
, Oct. 12, 2007 - U.S. plans to base missile defense radar and interceptors in Poland and the Czech Republic and Russia's opposition to those plans were at the heart of talks between U.S. and Russian leaders here this morning. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Defense Minister Anatoliy Eduardovich Serdyukov and Foreign Affairs Minister Sergey Lavrov at Putin's residence outside of Moscow.
According to pool reports, Putin did not meet with Gates and Rice until 40 minutes after their arrival. Prior to the meeting, U.S. reporters asked Lavrov if there would be any big breakthroughs during the talks. The foreign minister replied: "Breaks, definitely. Through or down -- I don't know."
In his opening remarks, Putin said, "I hope today's talks on many issues will be fruitful, but I hope that in the process of such complex and multifaceted talks you will not be forcing forward your relations with the Eastern European countries."
In a tone described by pool reporters as "mocking," Putin mentioned the possibility of a future missile defense system.
"Of course we can sometime in the future decide that some anti-missile defense system should be established somewhere on the moon," Putin said, according to an English translation. "But before we reach such arrangements, we will lose the opportunity for fixing some particular arrangements between us."
Putin threatened to abandon a key nuclear missile treaty. He said the Cold War-era Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty limiting Russian and U.S. short- and medium-range missiles was outmoded because other countries are acquiring such weapons.
"If we are unable to make such a goal of making this treaty universal, then it will be difficult for us to keep within the framework of such a treaty, especially when other countries do have such weapons systems," Putin said.
Gates told the Russians that the Pentagon was ready to intensify a dialogue on military relations.
"We have an ambitious agenda of security issues that concern both of us, including as you suggest, development of missile systems by others in the neighborhood, I would say in particular Iran," he said.
Rice responded to Putin's remarks by saying that the United States will try to find ways to cooperate. "Even though we have our differences, we have a great deal in common because that which unites us in trying to deal with the threats of terrorism, of proliferation are much greater than the issues that divide us," she said.
During a briefing on her way to Moscow, Rice said the goal of the missile defense system is to bring about security for European allies and the United States.
"We've been very clear that we need the Czech and Polish sites," she said. "But I think we ought to look at all the possible elements of what the President (Bush) and President Putin called a kind of regional architecture for missile defense. And there is considerable interest in both Azerbaijan and some of the possibilities in Russia itself. So I think we ought to look at all the possible elements."
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Gates Arrives in Moscow to Meet with Top Russian Leaders
By Linda D. Kozaryn
American Forces Press Service
Oct. 11, 2007 - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates arrived in Moscow tonight to join Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in meetings with top Russian leaders. Gates left Washington yesterday evening, stopping first in London for several hours to meet with British Prime Gordon Brown and Secretary of State for Defense Desmond Brown. The U.S. and British leaders primarily addressed ongoing operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
During his two-day visit to Moscow, Gates is scheduled to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Defense Minister Anatoliy Eduardovich Serdyukov and other top Russian officials. He also is slated to attend a dinner hosted by First Deputy Premier Sergey Borisovich Ivanov.
Along with discussing ongoing operations in Iraq and developments in Iran, a senior U.S. defense official traveling with the Gates said Gates and the Russian leaders most likely will discuss European missile defense and the Conventional Armed Forces in Europe Treaty.
Putin has voiced opposition to the U.S. plans for missile defense and reportedly may suspend his country's participation in the treaty Dec. 12 if the United States goes forward with its plans.
There is no provision for suspension of the treaty, the senior official told reporters traveling with the secretary. "It's either full compliance or withdraw. The Russians have defined a term of 'suspension' basing it on their legal analysis that if under an international agreement that you can withdraw then there's a half measure you that can suspend."
If the Russians decide to suspend CFE, he said, Russia would no longer have to supply information on its number of tanks or other conventional armaments. An inspection regime under the treaty that allows any signatory country to see if another country is honoring its commitment would no longer exist. Russia also would be able to reallocate forces anywhere with in its territory.
"It could move forces into the northern Caucuses, closer to Georgia," the official said. "It could also move forces into closer to Poland and the Belarus area."
If Russia was to withdraw from the treaty, he said, the other signatories, the Europeans and the United States could do the same. But the other signatories "will continue to honor the CFE regardless of Russian withdrawal," the official said.
The United States started laying out plans for a missile defense system for Europe in January. President Bush decided to begin discussions on plans to field radar and interceptors in Eastern Europe that would extend the zone of coverage for the potential long-range missile threat from Iran or others in the region. NATO's missile defense program covers most of Europe for short- and medium-range systems.
"The two locations we chose -- the Czech Republic and Poland -- are based on some pretty lengthy studies, and those are the most optimal places for the positioning of interceptors and the radar in order to be able to get as much coverage of Europe as possible," the senior defense official said.
In April, Gates traveled to the Czech Republic and Poland to discuss the plans. Officials in both nations have made it clear they are integral parts of the current plan, the official said.
Gates also discussed the plans with Putin in April, and U.S. officials presented suggestions on how the U.S. and Russia could cooperate on missile defense. Since then, U.S. and Russian experts have met in Washington, Paris and Moscow to discuss details of the plans, the official said.
"The Russians still have not formally responded to the proposals we put on the table in April about different opportunities for joint data exchange, technology sharing, joint experimentation," he said.
U.S. officials also have offered to provide data from radar equipment in Greenland, Poland or the Czech Republic, the official said. U.S. officials also are open to sharing early-warning information and threat analysis. "We're open to any possibility," he noted.
"The Russians have made it clear that any data that would be shared from their end would come from either Azerbaijan or new radar they are establishing," he said. "The radar feed could not be linked into our system. It would be early-warning radar that would be linked into a joint data center, but not part of our missile defense system."
A proposal to establish a joint data exchange center also has been on the table for 10 years, the official said. Each country would be able to share data so that if there were an accidental launch by any of the countries with ballistic missiles, they'd be able to track it and they'd be able to determine if it were an accidental launch or an attack.
"U.S. officials are open to a variety of different ways to use the data," the official said. "The Russians have made it clear that as long as we continue with the Czech Republic and Poland, integration from their system is not an option."
Monday, July 02, 2007
Putin Offers to Cooperate with U.S. on Missile Defense
By John J. Kruzel
American Forces Press Service
July 2, 2007 – Russian President Vladimir Putin pledged to increase cooperation with the United States as it moves toward establishing a missile defense program in Europe, he told reporters during a news conference today with President Bush. The two leaders met at Bush's family home in Kennebunkport, Maine, to discuss bilateral relations. Speaking about missile defense, Putin seemed more agreeable than during the most recent U.S.-Russian dialogue on the topic.
"President Putin proposed a regional approach to missile defense, that we ought to work together bilaterally as well as work through the Russia-NATO Council, and I'm in strong agreement with that concept," Bush said.
During a June 7 discussion, Putin suggested that the missile program be built in the former Soviet republic of Azerbaijan and opposed U.S. plans to install the rocket system in the Czech Republic and Poland. Proposing another alternative today, Putin offered to contribute and house several missile defense components in southern Russia.
"We would be prepared to engage in this system also a newly built radar, early warning system, in the south of Russia," Putin said. "That cooperation, I believe, would result in raising to an entirely new level the quality of cooperation between Russia and the United States.
"For all practical purposes, this would lead to a gradual development of strategic partnership in the area of security," he added.
Bush called the proposed plan "innovate," but reiterated the strategic roles the Czech Republic and Poland play.
"(Putin) just laid out a vision. I think it's very sincere, I think it's innovative, I think it's strategic," Bush said. "But as I told Vladimir, I think that Czech Republic and Poland need to be an integral part of the system."
The president said Putin has made "a very constructive and bold strategic move," and the two presidents agreed to hold future consultative meetings on missile defense strategy, adding that additional national leaders could be party to these discussions.
Each European nation will have to decide whether it will join the partnership, said Putin, who noted that non-alliance could have long-term political and economic effects.
"It would be clear to even a layman, if a country doesn't decide in a strategic partnership, this choice would determine the position of any country both in economic terms and from the political arena, in the final analysis, in the long term," he said. "Therefore, I'm confident that there will be interstate partners or parties in Europe."
American Forces Press Service
July 2, 2007 – Russian President Vladimir Putin pledged to increase cooperation with the United States as it moves toward establishing a missile defense program in Europe, he told reporters during a news conference today with President Bush. The two leaders met at Bush's family home in Kennebunkport, Maine, to discuss bilateral relations. Speaking about missile defense, Putin seemed more agreeable than during the most recent U.S.-Russian dialogue on the topic.
"President Putin proposed a regional approach to missile defense, that we ought to work together bilaterally as well as work through the Russia-NATO Council, and I'm in strong agreement with that concept," Bush said.
During a June 7 discussion, Putin suggested that the missile program be built in the former Soviet republic of Azerbaijan and opposed U.S. plans to install the rocket system in the Czech Republic and Poland. Proposing another alternative today, Putin offered to contribute and house several missile defense components in southern Russia.
"We would be prepared to engage in this system also a newly built radar, early warning system, in the south of Russia," Putin said. "That cooperation, I believe, would result in raising to an entirely new level the quality of cooperation between Russia and the United States.
"For all practical purposes, this would lead to a gradual development of strategic partnership in the area of security," he added.
Bush called the proposed plan "innovate," but reiterated the strategic roles the Czech Republic and Poland play.
"(Putin) just laid out a vision. I think it's very sincere, I think it's innovative, I think it's strategic," Bush said. "But as I told Vladimir, I think that Czech Republic and Poland need to be an integral part of the system."
The president said Putin has made "a very constructive and bold strategic move," and the two presidents agreed to hold future consultative meetings on missile defense strategy, adding that additional national leaders could be party to these discussions.
Each European nation will have to decide whether it will join the partnership, said Putin, who noted that non-alliance could have long-term political and economic effects.
"It would be clear to even a layman, if a country doesn't decide in a strategic partnership, this choice would determine the position of any country both in economic terms and from the political arena, in the final analysis, in the long term," he said. "Therefore, I'm confident that there will be interstate partners or parties in Europe."
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Airborne Laser Aircraft Slated to Provide Missile Defense
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
June 21, 2007 – A typical-looking 747 aircraft on the tarmac here today -- distinguishable from other 747s only by its glass, bulb-shaped nose -- could one day be the silver bullet that shoots ballistic missiles out of the sky. But what's revolutionary about the prototype Airborne Laser aircraft, which arrived last night after its first nonstop cross-country flight, is that it won't use bullets to take out its target, explained Air Force Col. John Daniels, program director.
It will use light.
"What makes this revolutionary is that you can engage targets at the speed of light - 186,000 miles per second," Daniels said. "So we can go from New York to Los Angeles before you can blink your eye. Think about that. You can't blink your eye faster than this weapon system or a beam of light goes across the country."
The Airborne Laser is being developed as an integral part of the ballistic missile defense system to protect the United States, its allies and its deployed troops against a ballistic missile attack, he explained. An advanced detection-and-tracking system, state-of-the-art optics and a high-energy laser would detect a missile launch and track it during the boost phase.
The world's largest turret assembly, encased in the glass-enclosed aircraft nose, would track the missile and determine a precise aim point. A laser would measure disturbances in the atmosphere and adjust the on-board optics to account for them.
Another laser would fire a beam - technically, a "megawatt-class chemical oxygen iodine laser beam" - to zap the missile until it breaks apart.
As futuristic as this concept sounds, the Airborne Laser project is moving steadily forward. Flight tests on the Airborne Laser are slated to wrap up this summer at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.
The chemical laser has had more than 70 successful firings over the past three years, and will be installed aboard the aircraft starting later this year in preparation for the first shootdown of a ballistic missile target, scheduled in mid-2009.
"We are going to put that big laser in the back ... and then we're ready to shoot a missile down," Daniels said. "So it's a pretty exciting time to be on the program. The biggest challenge we have right now is integration. The optics system is working. The battle management system works well. We even tracked an (intercontinental ballistic missile) with the sensors on the airplane. ... The laser works well on the ground."
Putting all that capability together and having it operate effectively is a much more significant step, he said.
"When you put those big pieces together, and you get the software talking to each other and the systems, that's not trivial. It's really an integration challenge," he said. "No miracles are needed, but the integration step is not easy."
Lessons learned from this initial prototype, with the tail number "0001," will be incorporated into a "production representative" model that is easier to operate and maintain and less expensive to build, he said. "That's the whole purpose of this plane, to give us those lessons learned so we know what to do different on the second airplane."
Ultimately, the Air Force hopes to have seven Airborne Laser aircraft. Plans call for them to be based in the United States, at a base with a long runway and the infrastructure needed to support large aircraft, Daniels said.
"But they would be forward-operated, depending upon the threat," Daniels aid. "If you had threats in multiple parts of the world, it is probably commonsensical that a commander may decide to send a few planes one place and a few planes somewhere else."
Aircraft would take off loaded with enough chemicals that, with aerial refueling, could get where they needed to be quickly and be able to operate for as long as possible. A single chemical load would be able to destroy "many, many missiles," Daniels said.
The Missile Defense Agency manages the Airborne Laser program, which is based at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M.
The Airborne Laser is slated to return tonight to Edwards for more testing.
American Forces Press Service
June 21, 2007 – A typical-looking 747 aircraft on the tarmac here today -- distinguishable from other 747s only by its glass, bulb-shaped nose -- could one day be the silver bullet that shoots ballistic missiles out of the sky. But what's revolutionary about the prototype Airborne Laser aircraft, which arrived last night after its first nonstop cross-country flight, is that it won't use bullets to take out its target, explained Air Force Col. John Daniels, program director.
It will use light.
"What makes this revolutionary is that you can engage targets at the speed of light - 186,000 miles per second," Daniels said. "So we can go from New York to Los Angeles before you can blink your eye. Think about that. You can't blink your eye faster than this weapon system or a beam of light goes across the country."
The Airborne Laser is being developed as an integral part of the ballistic missile defense system to protect the United States, its allies and its deployed troops against a ballistic missile attack, he explained. An advanced detection-and-tracking system, state-of-the-art optics and a high-energy laser would detect a missile launch and track it during the boost phase.
The world's largest turret assembly, encased in the glass-enclosed aircraft nose, would track the missile and determine a precise aim point. A laser would measure disturbances in the atmosphere and adjust the on-board optics to account for them.
Another laser would fire a beam - technically, a "megawatt-class chemical oxygen iodine laser beam" - to zap the missile until it breaks apart.
As futuristic as this concept sounds, the Airborne Laser project is moving steadily forward. Flight tests on the Airborne Laser are slated to wrap up this summer at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.
The chemical laser has had more than 70 successful firings over the past three years, and will be installed aboard the aircraft starting later this year in preparation for the first shootdown of a ballistic missile target, scheduled in mid-2009.
"We are going to put that big laser in the back ... and then we're ready to shoot a missile down," Daniels said. "So it's a pretty exciting time to be on the program. The biggest challenge we have right now is integration. The optics system is working. The battle management system works well. We even tracked an (intercontinental ballistic missile) with the sensors on the airplane. ... The laser works well on the ground."
Putting all that capability together and having it operate effectively is a much more significant step, he said.
"When you put those big pieces together, and you get the software talking to each other and the systems, that's not trivial. It's really an integration challenge," he said. "No miracles are needed, but the integration step is not easy."
Lessons learned from this initial prototype, with the tail number "0001," will be incorporated into a "production representative" model that is easier to operate and maintain and less expensive to build, he said. "That's the whole purpose of this plane, to give us those lessons learned so we know what to do different on the second airplane."
Ultimately, the Air Force hopes to have seven Airborne Laser aircraft. Plans call for them to be based in the United States, at a base with a long runway and the infrastructure needed to support large aircraft, Daniels said.
"But they would be forward-operated, depending upon the threat," Daniels aid. "If you had threats in multiple parts of the world, it is probably commonsensical that a commander may decide to send a few planes one place and a few planes somewhere else."
Aircraft would take off loaded with enough chemicals that, with aerial refueling, could get where they needed to be quickly and be able to operate for as long as possible. A single chemical load would be able to destroy "many, many missiles," Daniels said.
The Missile Defense Agency manages the Airborne Laser program, which is based at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M.
The Airborne Laser is slated to return tonight to Edwards for more testing.
Thursday, June 07, 2007
Gates 'Puzzled' By Russian Response to U.S. Missile Defense Plans
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
June 5, 2007 – Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said here today that he and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice "are both puzzled by what the Russians are doing" in response to U.S. plans to build missile defense sites in Eastern Europe. Speaking at a joint news conference with French Defense Minister Herve Morin, Gates said the two leaders had discussed the issue, including "some of the public statements coming out of Russia recently, especially by President (Vladimir) Putin."
Putin, who has accused the United States of trying to start an arms race, ordered test-firing of new missiles this week.
For the first time in history, the leaders of the U.S. State and Defense departments both have doctorates in Russian studies -- and both are baffled by Russia's activities, Gates noted today.
"I think it is important to be flexible in addressing their concerns on a number of different issues," he said. "At the same time, we should not be in the position of allowing them to obstruct further progress in a number of areas.
"But above all," he said, "we would prefer that they partner with us and be allies in pursuing a number of these initiatives."
Morin declined to state France's specific position on the missile issue, but said it's in nobody's interest to "create conditions that recall older times." He emphasized the need for "constructive dialog with our Russian friends."
During a June 3 question-and-answer session at the Asian Security Summit in Singapore, Gates emphasized that the missile defenses in question wouldn't be technically advanced enough to threaten Russia. Rather, he said, they would be designed to counter rogue countries or terrorist groups.
"In neither case is the ballistic missile defense aimed at weakening the deterrent of either China or Russia," he said.
Gates said the United States will explore "anything we can do to provide transparency on that point and help people understand the capabilities (and) characteristics of the system."
Article sponsored by criminal justice online leadership; and, police and military personnel who have authored books.
American Forces Press Service
June 5, 2007 – Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said here today that he and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice "are both puzzled by what the Russians are doing" in response to U.S. plans to build missile defense sites in Eastern Europe. Speaking at a joint news conference with French Defense Minister Herve Morin, Gates said the two leaders had discussed the issue, including "some of the public statements coming out of Russia recently, especially by President (Vladimir) Putin."
Putin, who has accused the United States of trying to start an arms race, ordered test-firing of new missiles this week.
For the first time in history, the leaders of the U.S. State and Defense departments both have doctorates in Russian studies -- and both are baffled by Russia's activities, Gates noted today.
"I think it is important to be flexible in addressing their concerns on a number of different issues," he said. "At the same time, we should not be in the position of allowing them to obstruct further progress in a number of areas.
"But above all," he said, "we would prefer that they partner with us and be allies in pursuing a number of these initiatives."
Morin declined to state France's specific position on the missile issue, but said it's in nobody's interest to "create conditions that recall older times." He emphasized the need for "constructive dialog with our Russian friends."
During a June 3 question-and-answer session at the Asian Security Summit in Singapore, Gates emphasized that the missile defenses in question wouldn't be technically advanced enough to threaten Russia. Rather, he said, they would be designed to counter rogue countries or terrorist groups.
"In neither case is the ballistic missile defense aimed at weakening the deterrent of either China or Russia," he said.
Gates said the United States will explore "anything we can do to provide transparency on that point and help people understand the capabilities (and) characteristics of the system."
Article sponsored by criminal justice online leadership; and, police and military personnel who have authored books.
Friday, April 27, 2007
Gates 'Not Surprised' by Russian Opposition to Missile Defense Plan
By Linda D. Kozaryn
American Forces Press Service
April 25, 2007 – Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates today said he is not surprised that some Russian officials have different points of view on the U.S. plan to base missile defense assets in Eastern Europe. "We've made some very far-reaching proposals, and I have no doubt that there's debate in Moscow about how to respond under the circumstances," the secretary said at a news conference here with German Defense Minister Franz Josef Jung.
The secretary stopped in Germany on his way back to Washington to brief German leaders on his talks with senior leaders in Moscow and Warsaw, Poland, earlier this week. In his meetings with the Poles and the Russians, Gates discussed the plan to base ground-based interceptors in Poland and radar assets in the Czech Republic.
Polish leaders said the plan would enhance their country's security. German leaders expressed their gratitude that U.S. officials were undertaking discussions on the plan with the Russians.
Jung said missile defense is a very important activity because it's a way of meeting the threat before the threat matures, a senior administration official in the meeting with the Germans reported. Gates noted that President Bush initiated the talks at the suggestion of German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Responding to a question about news reports on Russian opposition to the plan, Gates said, "It may take awhile for the Russians to consider what we said."
He noted that Russia's foreign minister did not sit in on the meetings, nor did the chief of the general staff sit in on several of the meetings.
During his meetings in Moscow, the secretary explained that the missile system would not be a threat to Russia and asked them to be a partner in its development. He also announced that the U.S. and Russia would form a working group of experts to address the technical details of the plan and Russian concerns.
"We've made a very forthcoming offer," Gates said. "We've invited them to come see our interceptors in Fort Greeley, Alaska, and to come see our radar in California. We even offered to collocate radar with them and share data."
The Russians have not yet responded to the invitation, he said.
The secretary said U.S. officials have been talking to the Russians about missile defense for several years, and he thinks it's important that the dialogue was initiated again over the last few weeks.
"I hope that they understand the intensification of this effort and the effort to try to (create) a potential partnership through the dialogue we've had in Moscow this week and at NATO last week," he said.
A senior administration official traveling with Gates told reporters on background that the secretary is not discouraged by the Russians' negative statements.
"In my experience, particularly in this kind of circumstance, when the Russians are on a wicket, they tend to have relatively uniform talking points," he said. "They tend to stick to those talking points until they've made the decision as a government to change their position. Then the talking points change, and they'll have a new set of talking points which they'll all use."
The secretary and his senior advisors did not anticipate getting a speedy response from the Russians, the official said. "It doesn't happen overnight," he stressed.
The defense officials went to Moscow to further the discussion, he said, and the Russians are now seriously looking at the proposals.
The Russians did agree, however, to have their experts sit down with U.S. experts and "work through some of the basic facts of the system," the official said.
U.S. officials hope to "ameliorate their concerns, through transparency measures or otherwise, so that they will understand what we believe to be the truth of the matter, which is that this is not a system directed against them. It's directed against Iran," he said.
U.S. leaders are going to "extraordinary lengths," he said, to brief both the Russians and European allies. The next step is to follow through on the invitations the secretary extended.
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice online leadership as well as police and military personnel who have authored books.
American Forces Press Service
April 25, 2007 – Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates today said he is not surprised that some Russian officials have different points of view on the U.S. plan to base missile defense assets in Eastern Europe. "We've made some very far-reaching proposals, and I have no doubt that there's debate in Moscow about how to respond under the circumstances," the secretary said at a news conference here with German Defense Minister Franz Josef Jung.
The secretary stopped in Germany on his way back to Washington to brief German leaders on his talks with senior leaders in Moscow and Warsaw, Poland, earlier this week. In his meetings with the Poles and the Russians, Gates discussed the plan to base ground-based interceptors in Poland and radar assets in the Czech Republic.
Polish leaders said the plan would enhance their country's security. German leaders expressed their gratitude that U.S. officials were undertaking discussions on the plan with the Russians.
Jung said missile defense is a very important activity because it's a way of meeting the threat before the threat matures, a senior administration official in the meeting with the Germans reported. Gates noted that President Bush initiated the talks at the suggestion of German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Responding to a question about news reports on Russian opposition to the plan, Gates said, "It may take awhile for the Russians to consider what we said."
He noted that Russia's foreign minister did not sit in on the meetings, nor did the chief of the general staff sit in on several of the meetings.
During his meetings in Moscow, the secretary explained that the missile system would not be a threat to Russia and asked them to be a partner in its development. He also announced that the U.S. and Russia would form a working group of experts to address the technical details of the plan and Russian concerns.
"We've made a very forthcoming offer," Gates said. "We've invited them to come see our interceptors in Fort Greeley, Alaska, and to come see our radar in California. We even offered to collocate radar with them and share data."
The Russians have not yet responded to the invitation, he said.
The secretary said U.S. officials have been talking to the Russians about missile defense for several years, and he thinks it's important that the dialogue was initiated again over the last few weeks.
"I hope that they understand the intensification of this effort and the effort to try to (create) a potential partnership through the dialogue we've had in Moscow this week and at NATO last week," he said.
A senior administration official traveling with Gates told reporters on background that the secretary is not discouraged by the Russians' negative statements.
"In my experience, particularly in this kind of circumstance, when the Russians are on a wicket, they tend to have relatively uniform talking points," he said. "They tend to stick to those talking points until they've made the decision as a government to change their position. Then the talking points change, and they'll have a new set of talking points which they'll all use."
The secretary and his senior advisors did not anticipate getting a speedy response from the Russians, the official said. "It doesn't happen overnight," he stressed.
The defense officials went to Moscow to further the discussion, he said, and the Russians are now seriously looking at the proposals.
The Russians did agree, however, to have their experts sit down with U.S. experts and "work through some of the basic facts of the system," the official said.
U.S. officials hope to "ameliorate their concerns, through transparency measures or otherwise, so that they will understand what we believe to be the truth of the matter, which is that this is not a system directed against them. It's directed against Iran," he said.
U.S. leaders are going to "extraordinary lengths," he said, to brief both the Russians and European allies. The next step is to follow through on the invitations the secretary extended.
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice online leadership as well as police and military personnel who have authored books.
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Gates 'Not Surprised' by Russian Opposition to Missile Defense Plan
By Linda D. Kozaryn
American Forces Press Service
April 25, 2007 – Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates today said he is not surprised that some Russian officials have different points of view on the U.S. plan to base missile defense assets in Eastern Europe. "We've made some very far-reaching proposals, and I have no doubt that there's debate in Moscow about how to respond under the circumstances," the secretary said at a news conference here with German Defense Minister Franz Josef Jung.
The secretary stopped in Germany on his way back to Washington to brief German leaders on his talks with senior leaders in Moscow and Warsaw, Poland, earlier this week. In his meetings with the Poles and the Russians, Gates discussed the plan to base ground-based interceptors in Poland and radar assets in the Czech Republic.
Polish leaders said the plan would enhance their country's security. German leaders expressed their gratitude that U.S. officials were undertaking discussions on the plan with the Russians.
Jung said missile defense is a very important activity because it's a way of meeting the threat before the threat matures, a senior administration official in the meeting with the Germans reported. Gates noted that President Bush initiated the talks at the suggestion of German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Responding to a question about news reports on Russian opposition to the plan, Gates said, "It may take awhile for the Russians to consider what we said."
He noted that Russia's foreign minister did not sit in on the meetings, nor did the chief of the general staff sit in on several of the meetings.
During his meetings in Moscow, the secretary explained that the missile system would not be a threat to Russia and asked them to be a partner in its development. He also announced that the U.S. and Russia would form a working group of experts to address the technical details of the plan and Russian concerns.
"We've made a very forthcoming offer," Gates said. "We've invited them to come see our interceptors in Fort Greeley, Alaska, and to come see our radar in California. We even offered to collocate radar with them and share data."
The Russians have not yet responded to the invitation, he said.
The secretary said U.S. officials have been talking to the Russians about missile defense for several years, and he thinks it's important that the dialogue was initiated again over the last few weeks.
"I hope that they understand the intensification of this effort and the effort to try to (create) a potential partnership through the dialogue we've had in Moscow this week and at NATO last week," he said.
A senior administration official traveling with Gates told reporters on background that the secretary is not discouraged by the Russians' negative statements.
"In my experience, particularly in this kind of circumstance, when the Russians are on a wicket, they tend to have relatively uniform talking points," he said. "They tend to stick to those talking points until they've made the decision as a government to change their position. Then the talking points change, and they'll have a new set of talking points which they'll all use."
The secretary and his senior advisors did not anticipate getting a speedy response from the Russians, the official said. "It doesn't happen overnight," he stressed.
The defense officials went to Moscow to further the discussion, he said, and the Russians are now seriously looking at the proposals.
The Russians did agree, however, to have their experts sit down with U.S. experts and "work through some of the basic facts of the system," the official said.
U.S. officials hope to "ameliorate their concerns, through transparency measures or otherwise, so that they will understand what we believe to be the truth of the matter, which is that this is not a system directed against them. It's directed against Iran," he said.
U.S. leaders are going to "extraordinary lengths," he said, to brief both the Russians and European allies. The next step is to follow through on the invitations the secretary extended.
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice online leadership as well as police and military personnel who have authored books.
American Forces Press Service
April 25, 2007 – Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates today said he is not surprised that some Russian officials have different points of view on the U.S. plan to base missile defense assets in Eastern Europe. "We've made some very far-reaching proposals, and I have no doubt that there's debate in Moscow about how to respond under the circumstances," the secretary said at a news conference here with German Defense Minister Franz Josef Jung.
The secretary stopped in Germany on his way back to Washington to brief German leaders on his talks with senior leaders in Moscow and Warsaw, Poland, earlier this week. In his meetings with the Poles and the Russians, Gates discussed the plan to base ground-based interceptors in Poland and radar assets in the Czech Republic.
Polish leaders said the plan would enhance their country's security. German leaders expressed their gratitude that U.S. officials were undertaking discussions on the plan with the Russians.
Jung said missile defense is a very important activity because it's a way of meeting the threat before the threat matures, a senior administration official in the meeting with the Germans reported. Gates noted that President Bush initiated the talks at the suggestion of German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Responding to a question about news reports on Russian opposition to the plan, Gates said, "It may take awhile for the Russians to consider what we said."
He noted that Russia's foreign minister did not sit in on the meetings, nor did the chief of the general staff sit in on several of the meetings.
During his meetings in Moscow, the secretary explained that the missile system would not be a threat to Russia and asked them to be a partner in its development. He also announced that the U.S. and Russia would form a working group of experts to address the technical details of the plan and Russian concerns.
"We've made a very forthcoming offer," Gates said. "We've invited them to come see our interceptors in Fort Greeley, Alaska, and to come see our radar in California. We even offered to collocate radar with them and share data."
The Russians have not yet responded to the invitation, he said.
The secretary said U.S. officials have been talking to the Russians about missile defense for several years, and he thinks it's important that the dialogue was initiated again over the last few weeks.
"I hope that they understand the intensification of this effort and the effort to try to (create) a potential partnership through the dialogue we've had in Moscow this week and at NATO last week," he said.
A senior administration official traveling with Gates told reporters on background that the secretary is not discouraged by the Russians' negative statements.
"In my experience, particularly in this kind of circumstance, when the Russians are on a wicket, they tend to have relatively uniform talking points," he said. "They tend to stick to those talking points until they've made the decision as a government to change their position. Then the talking points change, and they'll have a new set of talking points which they'll all use."
The secretary and his senior advisors did not anticipate getting a speedy response from the Russians, the official said. "It doesn't happen overnight," he stressed.
The defense officials went to Moscow to further the discussion, he said, and the Russians are now seriously looking at the proposals.
The Russians did agree, however, to have their experts sit down with U.S. experts and "work through some of the basic facts of the system," the official said.
U.S. officials hope to "ameliorate their concerns, through transparency measures or otherwise, so that they will understand what we believe to be the truth of the matter, which is that this is not a system directed against them. It's directed against Iran," he said.
U.S. leaders are going to "extraordinary lengths," he said, to brief both the Russians and European allies. The next step is to follow through on the invitations the secretary extended.
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Wednesday, April 25, 2007
U.S., Polish Defense Leaders: Missile Defense Will Enhance Security
By Linda D. Kozaryn
American Forces Press Service
April 24, 2007 – U.S. and Polish defense leaders agree that basing ground-based, missile defense interceptors in Poland will enhance the country's security. U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates met with Polish Minister of National Defense Aleksander Szczyglo here today to discuss the planned deployment, along with Poland's participation in Iraq and Afghanistan.
U.S. defense officials have begun negotiations with Poland and the Czech Republic to host long-range, ground-based interceptors and missile defense radar on their territories. These defense assets would counter possible missile attacks from such rogue nations as Iran or other sources in the Middle East or Southwest Asia.
While the Czech Republic has formally agreed to host the U.S. radar base, Poland has not yet agreed, a senior defense official traveling with the secretary said on background.
Following their meeting, Szczyglo told U.S. and Polish reporters the two men "came to the common conclusion that this U.S. project should increase the level of security in Europe, in this case specifically in Poland."
Gates said it was a pleasure to be back in Warsaw, noting that he first visited the city in 1975 on an advance trip for President Ford's visit. "All I can say is that Warsaw is a very different and very much better place today than it was in 1975," the secretary commented.
Gates reported that he had good talks with his Polish counterpart, and he expressed his condolences to the Polish people for the Polish soldier killed a few days ago in Iraq.
He said he reviewed with Szczyglo U.S. thinking on basing the missile defenses in Europe, as well as the "constructive conversations" he'd had in Moscow, including U.S. proposals for cooperation with Russia that were presented to NATO and Russia last week and then again discussed yesterday in Moscow. He also told the Polish defense leader that the United States and Russia would set up an expert group to continue looking at the subject.
Gates acknowledged that differences remain between the United States and Russia, especially on the technical characteristics and limitations of the system and Russia's concerns on the future capabilities of the system. He said the Russians have some misunderstandings about the systems.
"To alleviate that uncertainty," Gates said, "I invited the Russians to Alaska to see our interceptors and also to California to see what the radar would look like. Clearly they have questions about the capabilities of the system, and those are questions I think we can answer."
The secretary said he assured Szczyglo that constructive dialogue with Russia would continue. "We also agreed that any arrangement on missile defense with Poland should enhance Poland's overall security," Gates said.
"I do not believe Russia is a military threat to Poland - now, nor should we deploy a missile defense," the secretary said. "One of the points I made in Russia is that ... we're not talking about tomorrow or next year, but rather thinking about what the world might look like in 10 or 20 years.
"As I mentioned in my meeting with the minister," he said, "when I visited here in 1975, I never would have dreamed that 14 years later Poland would be free and that shortly after that the Cold War would be over.
"The world changes in dramatic ways," he said, "and what we're talking about here is indivisible security for the Unites States and our NATO allies. We would like to extend that umbrella to Russia and partner with Russia, have Russia be with us as we extend that program."
Gates thanked the minister for the robust Polish effort in Iraq and in Afghanistan. There are just fewer than 1,000 Polish troops in Iraq, and in response to NATO's plea for more troops, a combat battalion of 400 troops is now deploying to Afghanistan.
Gates said he looks forward to meeting with Poland's president and foreign minister tomorrow.
From Warsaw, the secretary is stopping in Germany to brief local leaders there before heading back to the United States.
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice online leadership as well as police and military personnel who have authored books.
American Forces Press Service
April 24, 2007 – U.S. and Polish defense leaders agree that basing ground-based, missile defense interceptors in Poland will enhance the country's security. U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates met with Polish Minister of National Defense Aleksander Szczyglo here today to discuss the planned deployment, along with Poland's participation in Iraq and Afghanistan.
U.S. defense officials have begun negotiations with Poland and the Czech Republic to host long-range, ground-based interceptors and missile defense radar on their territories. These defense assets would counter possible missile attacks from such rogue nations as Iran or other sources in the Middle East or Southwest Asia.
While the Czech Republic has formally agreed to host the U.S. radar base, Poland has not yet agreed, a senior defense official traveling with the secretary said on background.
Following their meeting, Szczyglo told U.S. and Polish reporters the two men "came to the common conclusion that this U.S. project should increase the level of security in Europe, in this case specifically in Poland."
Gates said it was a pleasure to be back in Warsaw, noting that he first visited the city in 1975 on an advance trip for President Ford's visit. "All I can say is that Warsaw is a very different and very much better place today than it was in 1975," the secretary commented.
Gates reported that he had good talks with his Polish counterpart, and he expressed his condolences to the Polish people for the Polish soldier killed a few days ago in Iraq.
He said he reviewed with Szczyglo U.S. thinking on basing the missile defenses in Europe, as well as the "constructive conversations" he'd had in Moscow, including U.S. proposals for cooperation with Russia that were presented to NATO and Russia last week and then again discussed yesterday in Moscow. He also told the Polish defense leader that the United States and Russia would set up an expert group to continue looking at the subject.
Gates acknowledged that differences remain between the United States and Russia, especially on the technical characteristics and limitations of the system and Russia's concerns on the future capabilities of the system. He said the Russians have some misunderstandings about the systems.
"To alleviate that uncertainty," Gates said, "I invited the Russians to Alaska to see our interceptors and also to California to see what the radar would look like. Clearly they have questions about the capabilities of the system, and those are questions I think we can answer."
The secretary said he assured Szczyglo that constructive dialogue with Russia would continue. "We also agreed that any arrangement on missile defense with Poland should enhance Poland's overall security," Gates said.
"I do not believe Russia is a military threat to Poland - now, nor should we deploy a missile defense," the secretary said. "One of the points I made in Russia is that ... we're not talking about tomorrow or next year, but rather thinking about what the world might look like in 10 or 20 years.
"As I mentioned in my meeting with the minister," he said, "when I visited here in 1975, I never would have dreamed that 14 years later Poland would be free and that shortly after that the Cold War would be over.
"The world changes in dramatic ways," he said, "and what we're talking about here is indivisible security for the Unites States and our NATO allies. We would like to extend that umbrella to Russia and partner with Russia, have Russia be with us as we extend that program."
Gates thanked the minister for the robust Polish effort in Iraq and in Afghanistan. There are just fewer than 1,000 Polish troops in Iraq, and in response to NATO's plea for more troops, a combat battalion of 400 troops is now deploying to Afghanistan.
Gates said he looks forward to meeting with Poland's president and foreign minister tomorrow.
From Warsaw, the secretary is stopping in Germany to brief local leaders there before heading back to the United States.
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice online leadership as well as police and military personnel who have authored books.
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Missile Defense System Protects United States, Allies
By John J. Kruzel
American Forces Press Service
March 28, 2007 – The United States has been fielding a missile defense system aimed toward defending itself, its deployed forces and its allies against emerging threats, a top military official said today. “We initially turned our attention to North Korea, because we felt that that had the higher sense of urgency, and we believe that that was somewhat justified by the activities last summer," said Air Force Lt. Gen. Henry A. "Trey" Obering III, director of the U.S. Missile Defense Agency, referring to North Korea's July 2006 missile tests.
"We have since begun to turn our attention to Iran, as well," he told reporters at a State Department foreign press briefing here on missile defense and Europe.
Obering said he's briefed the NATO-Russia Council and has opened discussions with German, French and Ukrainian officials in their respective European capitals. Talks with the Czech Republic and Poland are ongoing, and visits to Spain, Turkey, Greece and Hungary to discuss missile defense issues will take place in coming weeks, he said.
During these discussions, Obering said has been asked several recurring questions.
"I get asked, 'Well, first of all, doesn't this upset the balance that we've achieved in the past between deterrence? And what about arms control? Doesn't this contradict arms control measures?'" he said.
Obering said he reminds European officials that missile defense is part of a spectrum.
"It's part of an entire toolbox that we try to use to address the ballistic missile threat," he said. "At one end of that spectrum you have deterrence, and we believe that that is still a very viable concept.
"We also believe, though, that we may come into contact with nation-states or non-state actors that are not deterrable, that are not affected by arms control measures," he continued. "And when you have warheads flying in the air, it is a moral obligation to do something about that for the population (rather) than turning around and just saying, 'Sorry, we can't do anything about that.'"
Obering said ballistic missiles, which have proliferated for many years around the world, would be made less valuable by a global missile defense system.
"If you begin to deploy defensive capabilities to where you can negate these missiles, it begins to devalue them ... to the nations or to the organizations (that have them), because we believe we can render them ineffective," he said.
Obering emphasized that missile defense weapons are "defensive assets."
"These are not offensive missiles. They do not even carry warheads. There are no explosives on these missiles," he said. "We operate on a hit-to-kill technology, which is we actually drive a very small kill vehicle into an enemy warhead to destroy it."
This method is effective, Obering said, because the missiles used are so small and fast, they destroy enemy warheads with kinetic energy. "In fact, the kill vehicles that we're talking about that would be placed on the interceptors in Poland are no more than about 70 to 75 kilograms," he said.
Listing the system's recent benchmarks, Obering said that since 2001, the United States has had 24 successful hit-to-kill intercepts in about 32 attempts, including about 15 consecutive successful intercepts, over roughly the past two and a half years.
"We have had very good success in the past two and a half years with respect to testing of this system," he said. "It is a capability that does work, and that we will rely on as we move into this 21st century."
Article sponsored by military and police personnel who have authored books as well as criminal justice online leadership.
American Forces Press Service
March 28, 2007 – The United States has been fielding a missile defense system aimed toward defending itself, its deployed forces and its allies against emerging threats, a top military official said today. “We initially turned our attention to North Korea, because we felt that that had the higher sense of urgency, and we believe that that was somewhat justified by the activities last summer," said Air Force Lt. Gen. Henry A. "Trey" Obering III, director of the U.S. Missile Defense Agency, referring to North Korea's July 2006 missile tests.
"We have since begun to turn our attention to Iran, as well," he told reporters at a State Department foreign press briefing here on missile defense and Europe.
Obering said he's briefed the NATO-Russia Council and has opened discussions with German, French and Ukrainian officials in their respective European capitals. Talks with the Czech Republic and Poland are ongoing, and visits to Spain, Turkey, Greece and Hungary to discuss missile defense issues will take place in coming weeks, he said.
During these discussions, Obering said has been asked several recurring questions.
"I get asked, 'Well, first of all, doesn't this upset the balance that we've achieved in the past between deterrence? And what about arms control? Doesn't this contradict arms control measures?'" he said.
Obering said he reminds European officials that missile defense is part of a spectrum.
"It's part of an entire toolbox that we try to use to address the ballistic missile threat," he said. "At one end of that spectrum you have deterrence, and we believe that that is still a very viable concept.
"We also believe, though, that we may come into contact with nation-states or non-state actors that are not deterrable, that are not affected by arms control measures," he continued. "And when you have warheads flying in the air, it is a moral obligation to do something about that for the population (rather) than turning around and just saying, 'Sorry, we can't do anything about that.'"
Obering said ballistic missiles, which have proliferated for many years around the world, would be made less valuable by a global missile defense system.
"If you begin to deploy defensive capabilities to where you can negate these missiles, it begins to devalue them ... to the nations or to the organizations (that have them), because we believe we can render them ineffective," he said.
Obering emphasized that missile defense weapons are "defensive assets."
"These are not offensive missiles. They do not even carry warheads. There are no explosives on these missiles," he said. "We operate on a hit-to-kill technology, which is we actually drive a very small kill vehicle into an enemy warhead to destroy it."
This method is effective, Obering said, because the missiles used are so small and fast, they destroy enemy warheads with kinetic energy. "In fact, the kill vehicles that we're talking about that would be placed on the interceptors in Poland are no more than about 70 to 75 kilograms," he said.
Listing the system's recent benchmarks, Obering said that since 2001, the United States has had 24 successful hit-to-kill intercepts in about 32 attempts, including about 15 consecutive successful intercepts, over roughly the past two and a half years.
"We have had very good success in the past two and a half years with respect to testing of this system," he said. "It is a capability that does work, and that we will rely on as we move into this 21st century."
Article sponsored by military and police personnel who have authored books as well as criminal justice online leadership.
Friday, March 09, 2007
Commander Expresses Optimism About Pacific Region Missile Defense
By Fred W. Baker III
American Forces Press Service
March 8, 2007 – Spurred by North Korean missile testing in 2006, the United States has made significant strides this year in upgrading its missile detection in the Pacific region, the top U.S. Pacific Command official said yesterday. PACOM commander Navy Adm. William J. Fallon told the House Armed Services Committee that North Korea's testing forced the command "to really pay attention to the details of what we might do if the North Koreans, for example, were successful in actually getting (a Taepo Dong missile) to actually function as we think it was designed."
He said two failed North Korean Missile tests are encouraging, but U.S. leaders have got to assume that "sooner or later, they may figure out how to make (a missile) fly correctly."
"What we discovered was that we needed to really refocus our attention to the pieces of the chain which we would be able to detect and do something with these missiles if they threatened the U.S. today," Fallon said. "We've got to be prepared."
North Korea does not currently have a missile that can reach the U.S., Fallon said, but does have the ability to launch short- and medium-range missiles that can cover the Korean Peninsula and reach Japan.
A combination of linked sensors has been put in place to detect missiles fired from North Korea in the direction of the U.S. The first sensor is an X-band radar deployed in northwestern Japan.
Also, U.S. Navy ships equipped with the Aegis combat system, and integrated missile-guidance system, and Japanese naval ships, equipped with modified spy radar, are out in "significant" numbers in the Pacific Ocean, Fallon said.
Finally, a new sea-based X-band radar was deployed to a converted oil platform near the Aleutian Islands. This sensor is larger than the one in Japan and can detect and track missiles incoming to the U.S., Fallon said.
While the missile defense system still relies on overhead systems for the initial warning, the combination of the other sensors will pick up the missile and track it on the upside of its trajectory, Fallon said.
Ground based interceptors, as well as forward deployed newly modified standard missiles on U.S. Navy ships in the Pacific Ocean, would destroy any detected missile.
"These pieces, and the network that ties them together, are new this year. This is the first time we've actually had this system arrayed and tested, and we did it in real time during these (North Korean) missile shots in July," Fallon said.
"I think we've made a lot of progress here," he said.
Fallon was recently nominated to head U.S. Central Command, based in Florida.
This article was sponsored by police and military personnel who have authored books as well as online criminal justice leadership.
American Forces Press Service
March 8, 2007 – Spurred by North Korean missile testing in 2006, the United States has made significant strides this year in upgrading its missile detection in the Pacific region, the top U.S. Pacific Command official said yesterday. PACOM commander Navy Adm. William J. Fallon told the House Armed Services Committee that North Korea's testing forced the command "to really pay attention to the details of what we might do if the North Koreans, for example, were successful in actually getting (a Taepo Dong missile) to actually function as we think it was designed."
He said two failed North Korean Missile tests are encouraging, but U.S. leaders have got to assume that "sooner or later, they may figure out how to make (a missile) fly correctly."
"What we discovered was that we needed to really refocus our attention to the pieces of the chain which we would be able to detect and do something with these missiles if they threatened the U.S. today," Fallon said. "We've got to be prepared."
North Korea does not currently have a missile that can reach the U.S., Fallon said, but does have the ability to launch short- and medium-range missiles that can cover the Korean Peninsula and reach Japan.
A combination of linked sensors has been put in place to detect missiles fired from North Korea in the direction of the U.S. The first sensor is an X-band radar deployed in northwestern Japan.
Also, U.S. Navy ships equipped with the Aegis combat system, and integrated missile-guidance system, and Japanese naval ships, equipped with modified spy radar, are out in "significant" numbers in the Pacific Ocean, Fallon said.
Finally, a new sea-based X-band radar was deployed to a converted oil platform near the Aleutian Islands. This sensor is larger than the one in Japan and can detect and track missiles incoming to the U.S., Fallon said.
While the missile defense system still relies on overhead systems for the initial warning, the combination of the other sensors will pick up the missile and track it on the upside of its trajectory, Fallon said.
Ground based interceptors, as well as forward deployed newly modified standard missiles on U.S. Navy ships in the Pacific Ocean, would destroy any detected missile.
"These pieces, and the network that ties them together, are new this year. This is the first time we've actually had this system arrayed and tested, and we did it in real time during these (North Korean) missile shots in July," Fallon said.
"I think we've made a lot of progress here," he said.
Fallon was recently nominated to head U.S. Central Command, based in Florida.
This article was sponsored by police and military personnel who have authored books as well as online criminal justice leadership.
Saturday, January 27, 2007
U.S. Missile Defense in Europe to Counter Rogue States
By Sgt. Sara Wood, USA
American Forces Press Service
Jan. 26, 2007 – Missile defense assets the United States is planning to base in Eastern Europe will be aimed at countering threats posed by rogue nations, such as Iran, and will not pose a threat to allies in the region, a senior defense official said here yesterday. The Defense Department announced Jan. 19 that it was beginning bilateral negotiations with Poland and the Czech Republic to host long-range ground-based interceptors and a missile defense radar on their territories.
The concept of locating missile defense assets in Europe goes back to 2002, when DoD decided to extend coverage to allies, friends and deployed forces in the region and to enhance the defense of the United States, Air Force Lt. Gen. Henry A. "Trey" Obering III, director of the Missile Defense Agency, said in a teleconference with reporters. DoD began putting money for this missile defense in its 2006 and 2007 budget requests to begin the analysis and early work to prepare sites for these assets, he explained.
"The sites are intended to be part of an integrated, layered system that we have been deploying since 2004," Obering said. "They are geared toward and are directed toward rogue-nation capabilities, obviously not sophisticated ballistic missile fleets such as the Russians have, but are geared toward what we consider to be the rogue-nation threat, as is our ballistic missile defense system that we've been deploying."
Obering acknowledged that Iran does not yet have long-range, intercontinental ballistic missile capability, but he said it is still the largest threat in the region because it is clearly working to achieve those capabilities. U.S. officials have learned from the past, such as when North Korea launched the Taepo Dong 1 in 1998, just months after experts had predicted it would be years before that country had long-range capabilities, he said.
"We want to have this in place by the 2011-2012 timeframe, because we think the Iranians, for example, shortly thereafter will be able to have a long-range capability -- not one that they've demonstrated today or necessarily tomorrow, but again you're talking about several years from now, and so it's prudent for us to be thinking about that now and begin to build toward that so that we're in a position that we can do something about it in that timeframe," he said.
The United States wants to proceed quickly in staging the missile defense capabilities in Europe, but the timeline is subject to negotiations with Poland and the Czech Republic, Brian Green, deputy assistant secretary of defense for forces policy, said in the teleconference. Obering added that all three countries are motivated by the same factor, which is building a common capability to defend against emerging threats.
Each country has three or four acceptable locations that are under negotiation, Obering said. If approved, the interceptor site will employ about 200 people, and the radar site will need contractors to maintain the equipment and the site. Both locations would also require force-protection personnel, he said.
The physical locations will remain the sovereign territory of the host nation, Green said, but the United States will have operational control of the bases. All U.S. personnel will be required to abide by the laws of the host nation, he added.
Emphasizing that these sites will not threaten U.S. allies in the region, Obering said that the U.S. interceptors will not even be capable of catching Russian intercontinental ballistic missiles. He said he has traveled to Moscow to talk with Russian leaders and briefed the NATO-Russia Council about the program.
"We will continue to work closely with the Russians and continue to work closely with our NATO allies and our European allies to make sure that they understand what the technical and the program capabilities are of these missiles," Obering said.
The United States is not asking for any funding from the host nations or other European nations for the missile sites, Obering said. This decision was made in the interest of speeding the process, he explained.
"We did not want to have to worry about any kind of long, protracted negotiation with respect to funding support to get this started, because, as I said earlier, we believe that there is a compelling reason to begin to do this because of what we see emerging with respect to the threat," he said.
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