Whereas a potential attack employing a nuclear,
biological, or chemical weapon delivered by a ballistic missile constitutes one
of the most serious threats to United States national security and to the
security of our friends and allies;
Whereas the Iranian regime currently possesses short-range
ballistic missiles (SRBM), as well as medium-range ballistic missiles (MRBM),
capable of reaching much of the Middle East region, including Israel, and
reaching Turkey;
Whereas reports indicate that Iran is developing a more
sophisticated and longer range version of the MRBM known as the Shahab-3, with
such a new version potentially capable of reaching Europe;
Whereas intelligence estimates reportedly indicate that
the Iranian regime may soon be able to develop an intercontinental ballistic
missile (ICBM) capable of reaching the United States, as well as all of
Europe;
Whereas deploying United States ground-based missile
defense components in Europe will improve our ability to defend the United
States from missile attacks, as well as extend such defensive coverage to our
allies in Europe;
Whereas deploying United States ground-based missile
defense assets in Europe would serve as a deterrent to missile attacks by rogue
regimes against both the United States and Europe and may serve as a
disincentive for them to invest in the very development of such missile
capabilities, thereby enhancing United States nonproliferation
objectives;
Whereas the United States has made numerous efforts to
enhance cooperation with Russia on the issue of missile defense in Europe and
has held numerous briefings and discussions with Russian officials on the issue
in order to ensure the transparency of Unites States objectives;
Whereas the United States has reached out to and worked
with key allies in Asia, the Middle East, and Europe to promote a cooperative
missile defense against potential attacks by rogue regimes;
Whereas the United States continues to cooperate with its
allies in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) toward the
establishment of a common missile defense system, with the United States
focusing on the deployment of missile defense capabilities to counter
long-range missiles and NATO focusing on countering threats from short-range
and medium-range missiles;
Whereas in April 2008, at the NATO Summit in Bucharest,
Romania, the heads of state of the NATO allies formally recognized the missile
threat posed by rogue regimes and officially endorsed United States missile
defense plans, stating the following in a communiqué: Ballistic missile
proliferation poses an increasing threat to [the] Allies’ forces, territory and
populations. Missile defense forms part of a broader response to counter this
threat. We therefore recognize the substantial contribution to the protection
of Allies from long-range ballistic missiles to be provided by the planned
deployment of European based United States missile defense
assets.
;
Whereas in December 2008, NATO foreign ministers
reaffirmed their support for United States plans to install an anti-missile
defense shield in Europe;
Whereas United States missile defense systems have proven
increasingly effective, as they have been developed and tested, as indicated by
the fact that since 2001 the United States Missile Defense Agency has had 38
successful missile intercepts, out of 48 attempts against missiles of all
ranges; and
Whereas since the deployment and operational start-up of
defense assets require continuing commitments and preparatory steps and Iran’s
nuclear and missile capabilities are likely to present a serious threat within
a relatively short time, it is vital that work continue to expeditiously
establish missile defense assets in Europe: Now, therefore, be it
That the House of
Representatives—
(1)expresses growing
concern about the threat posed by nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons and
missile delivery systems for those weapons in the hands of states that sponsor
terrorism, such as Iran;
(2)expresses support
for the deployment of United States missile defense assets in Europe that will
provide a defense of the United States and our European allies from the growing
missile threat posed by rogue regimes;
(3)urges the
President to immediately take all necessary steps to expedite the deployment of
components of an operational United States ground-based missile defense system
in Europe;
(4)calls upon the
President to report to Congress on an annual basis on the steps taken by the
United States Government to move forward with the deployment of a United States
ground-based missile defense system in Europe that will provide protection of
the United States and Europe; and
(5)states that the
United States shall continue its support for the missile defense of key allies
against attacks by rogue regimes.