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Top Testing Official and Director of Missile Defense for the Pentagon Testify That Current System Can Defeat a North Korean Long Range Missile

Posted on: Thursday, 26 February 2009, 15:44 CST

WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Riki Ellison, Chairman of the Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance (MDAA) (www.missiledefenseadvocacy.org) attended the House Committee on Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces Hearing on The Future of Missile Defense Testing. His comments are as follows:

Ellison opened his comments saying, "As North Korea prepares for a test of a long range ballistic missiles capable of striking the territory of the United States, we heard testimony at the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, by Dr. Charles McQueary, Director of Operational Test and Evaluation for the Department of Defense, who stated 'In my annual report, I said ground-based mid-course defense has demonstrated a limited capability to defend against a simple long-range ballistic missile threat launched from North Korea toward the United States. And I stand by that wording, both this year and last year.'"

Lt. Gen. Patrick O'Reilly, Director of the Missile Defense Agency when asked by Congressman Franks, "Are you confident that this capability that we have today can provide a defense of the American people from the current North Korean threat?" Lt Gen O'Reilly replied "Yes, sir. Based on the scenarios that we've tested three times, although it's limited and it's in the beginning, those scenarios overlay a launch from North Korea and a response out of Alaska. And so we have tested three times that scenario first, for obvious reasons. And that is the source of my confidence. Second of all, our firing doctrine is that we have a significant number of missiles, so we can put a significant number of missiles in the air at once. And that each time significantly increases the overall probability that you are going to be successful."

Ellison stated, "The high confidence in the Ground Based Missile Defense system to protect the nation from the upcoming North Korean long range missile test by our country's top defense officials provides security and stability to our country, deterrence to our enemies as well as de-escalation to a potential crisis situation allowing diplomacy to work more effectively."

"These remarks by DOD officials under testimony validate the development and deployment of the Ground Based Missile Defense System in Alaska and California."

Ellison closed his remarks saying, "The Ground Based Missile Defense System devalues and holds harmless the North Korean long range ballistic missile.

Riki Ellison was at the Strategic Forces Subcommittee hearing and is available to share his thoughts on the proceedings, and he can speak to the threat posed by North Korea. Call Mike Terrill at 602 885-1955 to arrange an interview.

SOURCE Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance

Source: PR Newswire

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