Iran’s Long-Range Missile Threat
While the Obama administration plays semantics games and underestimates Iran’s missile and nuclear capabilities, Pentagon officials say the U.S. is taking Iran’s long-range missile threat seriously.
In August, the National Air and Space Intelligence Center released a report that concluded Iran would have the capability to reach the U.S. by 2015. Pentagon officials testified before the House Armed Services Committee last week that the U.S. will have the capability to shoot down Iran’s long-range missiles. Ground-based missile interceptors will be deployed to the west coast in 2010. (Source)
Under its “defense umbrella,” the U.S. will deploy Aegis interceptor-equipped navy ships to the Mediterranean to help protect Israel, Iran’s prime target.
Lawmakers who oppose Obama’s defense plans contend that Iran’s intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) could threaten the U.S. and parts of western Europe. The president cut missile defense by $1.4 billion, which reduced ground-based interceptors to be deployed in Alaska and California from 44 to 30. Pentagon official Michele Flournoy said those 30 interceptors will “provide the United States with full protection of the homeland against an Iranian ICBM threat.”
Lieutenant General Patrick O’Reilly of the Missile Defense Agency echoed the sentiment.
The administration purports to have new intelligence showing Iran does not have a long-range missile and will not have one until 2015 at the earliest. When Bush was in office, the low end of the estimate was 2012. What if Obama is wrong?
Republican Rep. Howard McKeon, member of the House Armed Services Committee: “Let me simply say, I’m skeptical. Intelligence is a fickle business.”
Indeed, but Obama believes money and energy should be focused on shorter-range missiles, at the expense of longer-range protection. As we’ve said before, unless the administration knows something specific about Iran’s capabilities that hasn’t been reported in the media, there’s little reason to make assumptions that downplay Iran’s intentions.
Tags: Barack Obama, ICBM, intercontinental ballistic missile, Iran, Israel