Conservatives Oppose Missile Defense Critic Philip Coyle’s Nomination
Last year, President Barack Obama nominated missile defense critic Philip Coyle to serve as associate director for the National Security and International Affairs in the White House’s Office of Science and Technology Policy. (See our previous post.) Among other things, Coyle believes U.S. missile defense is unnecessary and doubts that rogue nation Iran seeks to attack the U.S. and its allies.
“In my view, Iran is not so suicidal as to attack Europe or the United States with missiles,” Coyle said last year. Doubting Iran’s nuclear ambitions and ballistic missile capabilities, even as the country blatantly defies the U.N. Security Council, itself sounds suicidal. Most of Iran’s threats may be closer to bluster than reality, but the U.S. and other countries can’t afford to underestimate Iran. We must prepare ourselves for the eventual day Iran will act on its threats.
Coyle’s nomination doesn’t surprise Jamie M. Fly, executive director of the Foreign Policy Initiative, given President Obama’s disarmament approach to foreign policy. Fly notes that conservative lawmakers, the Heritage Foundation, and other think tanks have routinely pointed out Coyle’s shortcomings and their concern for long term safety.
“There is enough concern on Capitol Hill about Coyle’ views that a hold has been placed on his nomination,” he writes on NRO’s The Corner blog. “Some will argue that a position in the Office of Science and Technology Policy shouldn’t deserve much attention, let alone concern. It is true that this is a part of the White House that traditionally has not played a key role in major policy decisions. However, it is likely that an individual like Mr. Coyle would be unable to resist the urge to use his position to attempt to influence policy debates about issues, such as missile defense, that he has worked on for years.”
John Noonan at the Weekly Standard blog calls Coyle “a long time opponent of ballistic missile defense…an ideologue whose appointment could prove harmful to U.S. security.”
Tags: Iran, Philip Coyle