09.17.2009 original publish date
05.11.2010 update
03.17.2011 repaired broken links
06.27.2012 repaired/ replaced broken links
10.01.2012 repaired broken links
07.20.2014 repaired broken links, update page format
Strengthen the USA by Reducing Its Defensive Capabilities?
original article written by Net Advisor™
WASHINGTON DC. President Obama stated (video) that he would scrap plans for a land-based long-range missile defense system in Poland and the Czech Republic.
The intent of the program was to create a defense to take out long range nuclear missiles that could hit the USA, Europe and our other allies.
Instead President Obama is interested in using a land and sea-based system that can hit short range missiles but would not protect against longer range and more destructive nuclear missiles.
[1] Hold the Phone!
For the first time in recent memory, President Obama actually said something that former President Bush said and did, that was actually CORRECT?
“Obama: President Bush was right that Iran’s ballistic missile program poses a significant threat.”
Obama stated “HIS” plan is a better one and more “cost effective.”
Question? What would be the cost if even accidentally, a nuke ever hit the U.S. or major targets in Europe? What would be the cost of lives, cost of global economics, cost to everyone in the stock market, what are those costs? Is doing a plan on the cheap really the best defense?
[2] Caving in to Pressure and Threats From Russia?
On November 5, 2008, just one day after the Presidential Election, “Russian President Dmitry Medvedev threatened that he will deploy short-range missiles near Poland capable of striking NATO territory if the new Obama administration presses ahead with plans to build a missile defense shield in Europe.”
On November 8, 2008, Poland’s President Lech Kaczynski stated regarding a phone conversation with President-Elect Obama that “(Obama) intends to continue plans for a missile shield in Europe.” An Obama advisor denied that conversation took place.
Russian leaders are concerned that a U.S. EU-based missile defense system would reduce Russia’s ability to attack European and Western targets. Russia could just go build their own defense system if a paranoid unprovoked attack by the U.S. is such a major concern.
What Russian leaders don’t understand is that the U.S. is not seeking another arms race with Russia nor an attempt to make Russia incapable of launching any one of their 27,000 nuclear weapons including some 11,000 (long range) Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs) (video). The U.S. is really trying to protect against rogue nuclear missiles. It is that simple.
[3] Iran, North Korea Watch
Russia is not the threat that the U.S. is most concerned about. U.S. and Russian relations have made remarkable strides since President Reagan & Russian President Gorbachev helped bring the Cold War to an end in 1991 some say was sparked in part by this famous June 12, 1987 speech in Berlin:
“Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall.”
—- President Ronald Wilson Reagan, 1987 Speech in Berlin to Russian President Gorbachev [Sources: (video) (text)]
[4] New Russia?
However, the new more right-wing Russian government has not gone off to a good start when last year Russia invaded Georgia. Georgia asked the U.S. for help, but naturally the U.S. has no economic, political or other interest to risk a direct war with Russia and vice versa.
[5] The Bigger Issue: Iran & Company
The U.S.’s main concern right now includes Iran, North Korea, Afghanistan and Pakistan (story ID#4498 link gone).
Obama offered in March of 2009 to scrap the U.S.’s missile defense plan if Russia helps influence Iran to stop their nuclear objectives. Today, after U.S. plans to scrap the missile defense program, it is question if Russian will help at all with Iran.
Iran is still slated to be the leading sponsor of terrorism. Iran is bent on going nuclear. In July 2008, Iran publicly tested what is known as their longest range missile called the Shahab-3.
Iran’s Shahab-3 missile could strike targets as far west as Italy and Egypt, the entire middle-east, including Israel, Turkey, and as far east including Kazakhstan, India and part of China.
— Source: BBC (please see map below).
[6] Iran & Peaceful?
Iran is the 4th largest oil producer in the world has stated that its nuclear program is for “civilian purposes.” It is somehow hard to conceive that a terror rogue-like nation like Iran has suddenly turned “Eco Friendly” and sought to join the Green Movement. Iran has stated that their nuclear ambition is “peaceful.” Iran and peaceful. Somehow, given Iran’s history of military actions, that just doesn’t seem very likely.
The U.S. has accused Iran of seeking nuclear weapons for at least the last 4 years. Many major media outlets such as Reuters, The New York Times and The BBC have reported that Iran now has enough material to go military-nuclear or close to it.
“The United States believes Iran has stockpiled enough nuclear fuel to make a bomb.”
— U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen said on 03.01.2009 (Source: Reuters)
Iran has threaten to attack Israel if Iran’s nuclear facilities are attacked. Worse, in 2008, Iranian’s President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and military General have made public threats to “eliminate Israel from the scene of the universe.”
Since his rise to power, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has a history of making public threats such as:
“Israel is “a regime based on evil that cannot continue and one day will vanish. (10/2006)”
“Israel must be wiped off the map…(10/2005)”
— Source: MS-NBC
This somehow doesn’t sound like a “peaceful” man.
When will the U.S. and the rest of the world own up and learn that Iran has no intention of getting rid of its nuclear capability?
Iran wants to be a player in the world, and with all that oil money, one would think they could have some infrastructure. But the government of Iran has done very little for its people. Iran has maintained a 11-16% unemployment rate for at least the last 6 years. Iran also has a poverty rate of 18% (2008) and inflation running over 25% in 2008. Iran is also reported to be a hub for sex trafficking of women and children. Iran is a mess, and its leadership is the problem.
In the last so called “free election,” Iran’s leader has maintained power and control over its people.
So clearly Iranian leadership has not exactly been friendly, including to its own people, and the US somehow expects Russia to get Iran to change its mind on it’s nuclear ambition? So the U.S. bends at Russian’s threats to not have a long range missile defense, and then hopes that Russia will put pressure on Iran. Somehow, I just don’t see this working out too well.
And Iran is just one of the problems the U.S is facing. Obama’s new short range missile defense plan will begin in about 2 years and won’t be complete until 2020 assuming everything goes smoothly.
“The (U.S. anti-missile) system will begin to be phased in within the next two years, with the final phase to be completed by 2020.”
— Source: ABC News
Year 2020? Hate to break the news Mr. President, but Iran will be fully nuclear long before another 11 years. I hope we have some contingencies in place?
A U.S. anti-ICBM missile defense system has been in the talks since President Reagan in the early 1980’s which had a few names such as the Strategic Defense Initiative or SDI under General Daniel O. Graham (1926-1995), and nicked named “Star Wars” for using satellites and space based missiles to counter incoming nuclear ICBMs before they detonate. I think that project could have been done by now, if some people got their act together.
President Obama needs to understand that rogue nations such as Iran just don’t come to the table, hold hands, and negotiate peace. Nations like Iran government are driven by religious extremism, not by common sense or the greater good. Their own people want freedom and “change.” What I don’t see is how the U.S. is going to change a known radical government by implementing policy.
Additional information about the author:
Author has long followed global events, and developed military strategy games. While attending a major private university, author initiated a senior project and wrote a research report titled: “International Terrorism: Challenge to U.S. Intelligence.”
image(s) copyright by BBC where noted and or by respective owner.
Copyright © 2009-2012 Net Advisor.org® All Rights Reserved.
Revised copyright © 2014 NetAdvisor.org® All Rights Reserved.
NetAdvisor.org® is a non-profit organization providing public education and analysis primarily on the U.S. financial markets, personal finance and analysis with a transparent look into U.S. public policy. We also perform and report on financial investigations to help protect the public interest. Read More.
