October 23, 2007

Bush Urges Action On Missile Defense Shield

Amid continued protests from Russia, President Bush today affirmed his support for a U.S. missile defense shield in Eastern Europe to protect American interests and allies from potential strikes from Iran, even as Defense Secretary Robert Gates suggested the U.S. might delay activating the shield.

"The need for missile defense in Europe is real and I believe it's urgent. Iran is pursuing the technology that could be used to produce nuclear weapons, and ballistic missiles of increasing range that could deliver them," Bush told students at the National Defense University in Washington. "Today, we have no way to defend Europe against the emerging Iranian threat, so we must deploy a missile defense system there that can."

Today's speech was the latest example of the increasingly forceful rhetoric from the Bush administration about the need for allies to stand with the United States against Iran and its nuclear program.

Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin reiterated his opposition to the planned missile defense shield in Europe and appeared friendly toward Iran's nuclear ambitions, which that country claims are purely benign. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov today echoed Putin's contention that Iran is not a threat and expressed concern that the U.S. missile defense network is reaching "a global scale."

Gates, meanwhile, on a tour through Eastern Europe, indicated today that the U.S. may delay activation of the European missile defense sites until there is "definitive proof" that Iran could strike, AP reports. Despite Gates' comments, Bush's remarks retained the tone of urgency his administration has been adopting toward Iran.

"Our intelligence community assesses that, with continued foreign assistance, Iran could develop an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of reaching the United States and all of Europe before 2015," Bush told the crowd of about 400 military officers. "If it chooses to do so, and the international community does not take steps to prevent it, it is possible Iran could have this capability. And we need to take it seriously -- now."

AP and Reuters have more on this story.

Posted at 3:41 PM
Posted to: Bush Administration, Iran, President Bush, Robert Gates, Russia, Vladimir Putin
Share via